The 52 Book Club: 2025 / 2026 Challenge discussion

27. Features a magician

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a magician is “one skilled in magic” or “one who performs tricks of illusion and sleight of hand.” For this prompt, we’re looking for a book that features any kind of magician. The magician may actual have magical powers or be a stage magician, illusionist, escape artist, etc.

The magician may be featured as part of the title, cover art, plot, or as a character. If it’s character based, the magician may be the main character or a background / secondary character. The book’s plot may center around magic but it doesn’t not have to. The magician may appear for one scene (in a chapter about a children’s birthday party, for example) or play a key role throughout the entire story.


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A Darker Shade of Magic V.E. Schwab

Bear Necessity by James Gould-Bourne

The only one here that looks interesting is Ragtime

I’ve read The Immortalists. It was really good

I've read and recommend:
Tribal Affairs

The Night Circus by Eric Morgenstern

The Witch's daughter

Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett

nettle and bone by T. Kingfisher

Just finished The Dragon Sword by John R. Phythyon Jr.. It was okay but I won't be reading any of the others in the series.

Impractical Magic by Emily Grimoire features magicians pretty prominently.

I read A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Puck can transforms a character into a donkey and there is a magic potion used by the fairies. They are referred to as diaries but since they do magic I'm considering them magicians as well

Something Close to Magic by Emma Mills.
Witty, Charming, Sparkly fun. Most of the characters are gaining an understanding or mastery of their magic. I knew where this story was going, there weren't many surprises, but I just wanted to be part of the adventure with these delightful characters. 4 stars.

The Magician’s Nephew

13/52

A book from my TBR shelf - I'm really enjoying this challenge

I'm reading Oz: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Marvel's Oz Comics#1

I read Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman. King Leprechaun had magicians in his court.

The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien

I recently finished listening to the graphic audiobook Mistborn: Well of Ascension, which is the second part of this books story (2/3).

The part of the story that I enjoyed the most, and I am eagerly looking forward to reading part 3.

I read Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis.

I read The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett.

Would anyone who read The Secret Place by Tana French consider it for this prompt?

I went with a loose interpretation. We were at the circus and there was in fact a magician and his apprentice. Perhaps not a main character, or feature, but there from beginning to end!



Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver

My Rating: 3.4

My least favorite of the trilogy, yet still plenty unhinged

I read "The Magicians: The New Class" by Lev Grossman with Lilah Sturges and Pius Bak

I read Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell, 4 Stars

I read "The Girl in the Tower" by Katherine Arden. It's the second book in the Winternight Trilogy. The first one would also work for this prompt, "The Bear and the Nightengale"

I'll go with Camelot by T.H. White

Fantasy/adventure for older children - Jane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds by Jeremy Lachlan. A great adventure for 12+

The Magician's Nephew

The Magpie Lord by KJ Charles
The Magpie Lord

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao

I read Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson for this topic (Read June 20th; 3*) One of the book's characters is a performing magician

serendipity strikes! started an audiobook collection from Tessa Bailey & the heroine of the very first one (Fix Her Up) is a birthday party clown & magician 😄

“Magician’s Ward” by Patricia C. Wrede has many magicians in it. It wasn’t my favorite of this genre, but I had read the others suggested.

I read The Paper Magician for this week. A little cutesy, but still mostly enjoyable. Not so much that I will be carrying on. But as a paper lover, I enjoyed the magic.

Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One-Kristen Arnett. The protagonist is a clown, her main love interest, a magician

I read The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
3/5

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I read The Immoralists. I was immersed in the book, but think it would have been better if it ended sooner. Still highly recommend-4 stars

I thought that this would be a harder prompt for me to fill because I don't typically read fantasy type books. As it happens, I have read multiple books with magicians including The Night Circus. I have wanted to read and a friend loaned me her copy. I really liked it.

I read Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard by Tom Felton. Sure, he's a wizard, not a magician, and also he isn't a wizard, he just played one on TV. Whatever, I'm counting it anyway.

I was delighted to discover that Nate Bargatze's new memoir, Big Dumb Eyes, prominently features a magician -- because his dad was a professional clown and magician during his childhood. I definitely recommend the book on audio.

i read The Diviners by Libba Bray

i was a bit disappointed. I had hoped this would be a new favorite book and series for me.

Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis. First in a series of three, and a fun read. Not normally my genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I read Storm Front by Jim Butcher

I read “Katabasis” by R F Kuang.

Like some others, I read Katabasis by R.F. Kuang for this prompt. Two students of Magick ascend into the realms of Hell to rescue their thesis advisor. Their futures depend on it!

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

I read The Bewitching

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen. 3.5 stars. Good easy read