Charlie N. Holmberg's Book of Magic

by Charlie N. Holmberg

Unravel the secrets to crafting a masterful magic system from best-selling fantasy author Charlie N. Holmberg.

Whether using magic as flavor or as an essential piece of plot, this book will guide fantasy authors, from new to experienced, through the delicate layers of creating, utilizing, and mastering magic systems.

In this book, we will...Discuss the schools, laws, and spectrum of magicLearn to build individual pieces of a magic systemDig into magic’s influence on worldbuildingExamine different types and styles of magicDevelop and polish original magic systems
With workshops, work pages, and reference materials included, this succinct one-and-done guide to crafting the magical elements of the fantasy genre is a must-have for speculative fiction authors.

Genres: Fantasy, Writing

103 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2024

About the author

Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of fantasy and romance fiction, including the Paper Magician series, the Spellbreaker series, and the Whimbrel House series, and writes contemporary romance under C. N. Holmberg. She is published in over twenty languages and is a Goodreads Choice Award, ALA, and RITA finalist. Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. A BYU alumna, she discovered in her thirties that she’s actually a cat person. She lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com.

Amazon: amzn.to/2BXoQNZ
Instagram: Instagram.com/cnholmberg
Facebook: Facebook.com/cnholmberg
Twitter: Twitter.com/cnholmberg

Reviews

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much. I read it just at the right time, since I’m embarking on a writing adventure this month and hope to write a longer piece of fiction specifically within the fantasy genre. There are so many good ideas here! It’s been very well-researched and contains many brainstorming exercises to kickstart your writing. I will definitely be referencing this quite a bit from now on.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for an eARC. I am writing this review voluntarily.

[Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a writer who wants to use magic in your stories, this could be a great resource! There’s great breakdowns of different magic systems along with examples and there’s worksheets and brainstorming ideas to help you through the thought process. Highly recommend!

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a great book for new writers and older fans of her many magical worlds. Holmberg really lays out a perfect way to develop your own magic system in your world. Recommended

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a fantasy writer, or you want to be, I highly recommend this book. Charlie takes you through all the important steps to make sure your magical world is set up properly and that your story will be compelling to readers. I found so many ideas in here that I cannot wait to see fleshed out!

Fantastic book!

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommended this book for any author incorporating magic into their writing.

I originally thought this book was a new series from this author, and I was pleasantly surprised at it being a how-to book. The author's ability to explain their process and expertise was easy to understand, even for a non-writer.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Madelyn- The Squeaky Clean Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever, fun, and Insightful

This books made me laugh out loud, think deeply about magic systems, and made me realize I need to read more fantasy books.
Or maybe not, because it also helped me realize what type of magic systems I like reading, so I'll probably stick to those.
I love the worksheets, applicable things, and how I can use this book for the rest of my writing life to figure out how to polish up my magic systems.
Loved it! Especially the footnotes. 🤣🤣

[Aaron N. Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gobbled this book up in less than a day. It wasn't too hard since it's only 145 pages, and about half that if you (like me) tend to skip charts and worksheets.

What Charlie has made here is a must-have resource for fantasy writers. She breaks down the hows and whys and ifs of magic systems so we as fantasy storytellers can create systems that actually WORK for the story.

As someone who typically writes very basic magic systems, I feel empowered to push myself further after reading this book. I've already started brainstorming ideas for future fantasy stories.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Marja Coons-Torn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a new or aspiring fantasy writer, you need to read this book by a prolific author with numerous books and series to her name. In fact, it might be important to the success of your book. Charlie explains categories of magic systems and why they are important. She analyzes limits to magical power and how to get around them if your story needs to do so.
Holmberg discusses originality and why your work should not rely too heavily on someone else's system. She’s the perfect person to do this because Charlie’s series are not carbon copies one of the other. She has original, creative and engaging premises for her different series. If you've read or are a reading one of her series, you will know that you like her writing. But you will not know how another series will use magic, magical touches or magical reality.
In this volume, Holmberg points to examples from many writers to help you understand choices and make it less tempting to copy.
You might want to read her book before you start and then again while you're writing. From Charlie you can learn what needs to be considered and how to make intelligent choices both for your characters and your plot.
You might want to consider a physical cooy as The author gives you many places to write down your choices and look at the consequences. You can analyze whether your happy with the world you're building. But if you really prefer an e-book, you could always print out those pages.
The further you go I to the Book of Magic, the more technical Holmberg becomes. At the end you’ll find appendices and a bibliography. It's a no-brainer that you should have read a lot of fantasies before you start to write your own. Her bibliography will either help you get started or let you check your reading against her suggestions. Helpful either way. This is not a long book, but I think it will give new or aspiring authors a jump start. Maybe you an avoid some mistakes others have made. Happy writing.

[Daphne Tatum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate a writing craft book that doesn't meander. I'm here to learn something, and I'd like to do it in the quickest way possible so I can actually APPLY those principles, thank you very much. In the intro to Charlie Holmberg's Book of Magic, Holmberg describes the book as "dense and express" and "all meat" (no fluff). It lives up to those promises.

The best reason to read this book? Holmberg is a master of creative magic systems, and this book guides you through the process of creating a better-than-average magic system of your own. It's highly adaptable-- not a guide to mimicking Holmberg's systems, but to bringing out the best in your own writing.

The appendices and worksheets are an amazing extra. I especially appreciated the list of all the various types of already-established magic. Even as a long-time fantasy reader, there were things in the list that surprised me.

I do suggest getting this in physical form, at least if you read Kindle books on your phone. A few of the images used to illustrate concepts don't really "scale up" when you enlarge the print, and they're tough to see on the phone. Probably wouldn't be an issue on a larger device. And honestly, even if Kindle on your phone is your only option... it's still 100% worth the read. A must-have for fantasy writers!

I received a free copy of the ebook via Booksprout in exchange for my honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Holmberg’s Book of Magic is a weeklong magic worldbuilding writers workshop condensed into book form. It’s short and sweet with no fluff. As a reader, it gave me tools to understand and articulate why some fantasy books are better than others. It also returned me to a teenage version of myself who really did dream of creating fantastical stories. Unfortunately for that version of me, the process felt so overwhelming, I contented myself to being a reader. This book broke down all the steps and made the idea of creation feel a lot less overwhelming and a lot more tangible. It gives you the structure to create a unique and meaningful fantasy world while preserving the fun and the creativity. I appreciated and marveled throughout at how well read Charlie is in this genre, and I loved seeing her take concepts and use other well known books in that genre from a myriad of different authors to drive the points home. This book is a treasure trove of information. Definitely worth the time and the money if you enjoy reading fantasy or if you’re an aspiring author.

I would like to thank Oliver Herber Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Liz Feldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this little book! Only 51 pages on ebook but it sure packs a punch. Charlie N. Holmberg, bestselling fantasy author of The Paper Magician and many other books, skillfully guides writers through magic and magic systems. She breaks down types of magic and magic systems, their rules and laws, and their use in a wide variety of books (and some movies and TV shows). She offers tips and exercises for how to create your own magic system and how to incorporate aspects of magic into a book. In addition to helpful exercises, she includes a list of creative appendices and clever footnotes.

Charlie is very funny, genuine, and really shines in this short book as a master writer and lover of fantasy. I kept a list of the books she referenced and there were around 50 of them! She offered great tips and insight that came from how well-read she is. I took notes and enjoyed the exercises. It really got my creative brain flowing!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Oliver Heber Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Nad]

Rating to be determined 🤔

Eh, I was so looking forward to reading this one 😕 On the whole, it's nothing groundbreaking, especially if you are an avid fantasy reader, but the book has nicely gathered various info on magic in one place. However, the writing style makes it seem like it's aimed at someone who's trying to write their first fanfic at 15, especially in the final chapters. There are lots of attempts at being humorous and witty, but they come off as condescending instead.

On the plus side - there are a lot of examples of books that illustrate theoretical point; however, most of them are those brand-new "tiktok sensation" and "New York Times bestseller" books, of which I personally have very low opinion (with a few exceptions).

The lowest point is linguistic advice - it is abominable. And I'm not sure the author understands Tolkien's legendarium. And then at some point she advises using AI...

[Sheri-Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one of the many people on this planet who have a book stuck in their head but can't seem to get it off the ground, I found this book inspirational.

While reading along, just for enjoyment, new ideas for my main character popped into my head, and new thoughts on their journey began to form.

I wrote them down, bounced them off my favorite sounding board, and more pieces began falling into place.

Reading Book of Magic breathed new life into a stagnant story. If you're a fantasy writer (even if you don't think you're one because you haven't finished that first book yet), I highly recommend this book!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow this book is amazing! I’ve always loved books that expand on how to write better (like On Writing by Stephen King). Charlie N. Holmberg’s Book of Magic really narrows down to the specific thing I’ve daydreamed about since elementary school: ✨magic✨
This book is quick, simple, easy to read, and (how Holmberg puts it) has very little fluff. It’s quick to show how to make a complex, magical world. I was engaged by the fun writing style and the countless worksheets that helped me try her tips myself.
I’d recommend this book to all writers that wish to expand their fantasy writing to the next level. I’ll definitely be using all I learned from this book in the future!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful craft book on magic systems for use in writing fantasy. The explanations were very clear, as were the examples. I liked that other well-known books/series were sometimes referenced because it made it easier to understand exactly what is being described and the differences between magical systems. Plenty of information is provided to use as prompts to begin creating your own magical systems. This is also an interesting book for fantasy readers interested in better understanding the magic included in the books they love. 

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sreya Bremtin · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is nothing wrong with this book. I enjoyed it immensely. But it is a writers’ text book and not a fantastical fictional story. So don’t get this thinking it is an easy, entertaining, escape read. This is work, my friends. This is instruction. And I have never been able to just sail through an educational text book like it was a fantasy/scifi tome.

With that said, it is written with a humorous and light-hearted tone that make its instruction and insight infinitely more palatable and enjoyable. Learning can be fun!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my mind there are two general categories of writing craft books: aspirational and informational. One helps your feelings about writing and the other helps your knowledge about writing. They both have their place and there are many fantastic books already in existence for each category. With an exception for fantasy specific writing. This is the type of narrow focus book that is incredibly useful information for writers in the fantasy genre (sci fi as well, but less so). The use of examples is, well, useful. And the pages set aside for notes and working through different activities are thoughtful and, once again, useful. I'll easily recommend to anyone writing in the fantasy genre!

[Danielle Nilsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone attempting to write a fantasy novel this was an excellent resource!! Holmberg share’s Brandon Sanderson’s three laws of magic but expands on them as well. She provides examples of MANY kinds of magic systems and breaks things into easy to understand categories, with lots of questions to guide your thinking. The book comes with sections to take notes and worksheets to compile your magic systems plans and ideas, as well as appendixes with tons of examples to spur you on. I’m way past the pub date, but I did receive an eARC of this book and I am very grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for that! 🙏🏻

[Clairelettersandmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

*Book of Magic* by Charlie N. Holmberg is an insightful guide for fantasy authors looking to build unique, compelling magic systems. Holmberg, a seasoned fantasy author, breaks down the essential aspects of crafting magic—from foundational principles to detailed worldbuilding. The book covers the schools, laws, and types of magic, as well as its impact on society and plot, offering a complete toolkit for authors at any level.

With interactive elements like workshops and worksheets, Holmberg provides practical, step-by-step guidance that makes complex concepts approachable. Perfect for aspiring and experienced fantasy writers alike, *Book of Magic* is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to create a memorable and cohesive magic system.

[Jared Quan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an author I am constantly looking for resources to help me craft great stories. The Book of Magic is a Masterclass of information that I will go back to over and over again. I found the explanations in each section to be incredibly insightful, and the appendices are brilliant. It is great getting to peek behind the curtains to see how Charlie comes up with the wonderful magic systems she uses.

I highly recommend this book for aspiring, new or established authors.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a lot of Charlie N. Holmberg's work, and she always crafts a story that is beautiful, fun, and simply magical. Reading through this guide for how to craft a magic system in a book was inspiring. I have always had the thought in the back of my head that maybe someday I want to write a book. I feel like this puts me one step closer. This is a great resource for someone just starting out and has so many ideas to build off of to help flesh out your story and your world. I can't wait to get started and see where my ideas end up!

[Elle Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great tool for fantasy authors. It had quite a bit of information I was already familiar with, but it was still a great refresher. If you're looking for ways to improve your magic systems (or maybe you've gotten yourself into a sticky situation in your writing), this is the tool you need. Certified writer's block buster.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not an aspiring writer, but this is a short NF book by an author I like, so I decided to give it a try. There is not much here that is terribly original but it is well put together and easy to pay attention to.
PS: I listened to the audiobook.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully helpful

I've read a library's worth of writing guides in my time, and this one leaps right to my top 5. It's fun, it's clear, and it fizzes with creative sparks. I found myself refining the magic in my own fiction even as I read.

[Roy Dixon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great for informing you about other authors whose stories hopefully are better than this book. It has no story just a poor guide to magic. Save your money.

[Amanda K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well written. It gave me lots of ideas on how to make my own magic systems better.

[Lynda Critchfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book directed to writers of fantasy novel.The author explains all the different forms of magic, and all the things that go into writing fantasy stories.

[Jessica Flory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, packed with helpful information! A must-read for a fantasy author.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing earth-shattering, but a good overview of things to consider when building a magic system.