10 1700s Fantasy Books
The 1700s were a time of grand adventures, powdered wigs, lavish courts, and revolutions. Now imagine layering in elemental magic, mythical creatures, and forbidden love—it’s the perfect recipe for irresistible fantasy tales! These books capture the spirit of the era while transporting readers to magical worlds filled with high-stakes intrigue and unforgettable characters.
1. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Margaret Rogerson is the New York Times bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens. An Ohio native, she currently lives near Cincinnati. She has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, and when not busy reading or writing, she enjoys watching more documentaries than most people consider socially acceptable.
📚 Enchantments, deadly grimoires, and a resilient librarian caught in a sinister plot.
Elisabeth, a ward of one of Austermeer’s grand magical libraries, gets embroiled in a conspiracy involving powerful grimoires and a charming yet dangerous sorcerer, Nathaniel Thorn. The 18th-century-inspired world is lush with magical intrigue and forbidden romance.
💭 Why it’s captivating: The chemistry between Elisabeth and Nathaniel is as electric as the spells flying through the pages. Rogerson’s world-building practically glows with enchantment.
2. The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley
⏳ Time travel, parallel worlds, and an alternate 18th-century England.
Joe Tournier wakes up in a version of England ruled by the French Empire. With no memory of his past, he embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about his identity, leading him to an eerie lighthouse and a love that transcends time.
💭 Why it’s memorable: Pulley weaves a haunting, beautifully complex tale of love, loyalty, and second chances, all against a vividly reimagined historical backdrop.
3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
🎪 A magical duel, a traveling circus, and a love story written in the stars.
While technically spanning multiple eras, the aesthetic and ambiance of the late 18th century pulse through this enchanting tale. Two young magicians, Celia and Marco, are bound by a competition set by their enigmatic masters—but their hearts have other plans.
💭 Why it’s unforgettable: The lush descriptions of the circus and the forbidden romance will leave you spellbound.
4. The Binding by Bridget Collins
Bridget Collins was born in 1981 in Kent, England. She always wanted to be an actor, and trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art after studying English at King’s College, Cambridge, but after she graduated from drama school she found herself starting to write a novel as a way to distract herself when she wasn’t working – and discovered that she loved it… Her first published novel, The Traitor Game, won the Branford Boase Award and was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Since then she has published six more novels for teenagers. The Binding, her first adult novel, was published in January 2019, went straight to no. 2 in the Sunday Times bestseller list, was the bestselling adult debut hardback that year, and reached no. 1 on its paperback release. Her second adult novel, The Betrayals, was also a Sunday Times bestseller.
📜 Secrets, love, and the forbidden art of bookbinding.
In a world where memories can be bound into books and forgotten, Emmett Farmer becomes an apprentice to a mysterious binder. As he learns the craft, he uncovers a hidden truth that threatens to unravel everything he knows.
💭 Why it’s spellbinding: The romance in this story unfolds with heart-wrenching beauty, and the 18th-century-inspired world feels both haunting and enchanting.
5. A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by H.G. Parry
H.G. Parry lives in a book-infested flat in Wellington, New Zealand, which she shares with her sister and two overactive rabbits. She holds a PhD in English Literature from Victoria University of Wellington, and teaches English, Film, and Media Studies. Her short fiction has appeared in Intergalactic Medicine Show, Daily Science Fiction, and small press anthologies. The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is her debut novel.
⚖️ Magic, revolutions, and political intrigue.
Set during the Age of Enlightenment, this novel reimagines the French and Haitian revolutions with magic at their core. From Robespierre’s dark powers to the fierce abolitionist Toussaint Louverture, the story is a spellbinding mix of history and fantasy.
💭 Why it’s a must-read: Parry’s intricate world-building and compelling characters breathe new life into historical events.
6. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Susanna Mary Clarke (born 1 November 1959) is an English author best known for her debut novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (2004), a Hugo Award-winning alternative history. Clarke began Jonathan Strange in 1993 and worked on it during her spare time. For the next decade, she published short stories from the Strange universe, but it was not until 2003 that Bloomsbury bought her manuscript and began work on its publication. The novel became a best-seller.
Two years later, she published a collection of her short stories, The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories (2006). Both Clarke’s novel and her short stories are set in a magical England and written in a pastiche of the styles of 19th-century writers such as Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. While Strange focuses on the relationship of two men, Jonathan Strange and Gilbert Norrell, the stories in Ladies focus on the power women gain through magic.
🪄 Magic, rivalry, and a reimagined 19th-century England with an 18th-century sensibility.
Though technically set in the early 1800s, this sprawling novel is steeped in the traditions and aesthetics of the late 1700s. Two magicians, Jonathan Strange and the reclusive Mr. Norrell, vie for supremacy as England grapples with the return of magic.
💭 Why it’s unforgettable: Clarke’s meticulous world-building and elegant prose make this a timeless masterpiece.
*7. Daughters of the Storm by Elizabeth Buchan
Elizabeth Buchan’s short stories are broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and published in magazines. She is a past reviewer for the Sunday Times and the Daily Mail, and has chaired the Betty Trask and Desmond Elliot literary prizes. She was a judge for the Whitbread First Novel Award and for the 2014 Costa Novel Award . She is a patron of the Guildford Book Festival and co-founder of The Clapham Book
⚔️ Courtly intrigue, elemental powers, and fierce women fighting for their place in the world.
This richly woven tale follows five sisters as they navigate political plots and supernatural forces in a kingdom teetering on the brink of chaos.
💭 Why it’s worth reading: The fierce sisterhood and vivid fantasy elements are set against a backdrop reminiscent of 18th-century courtly life.
8. The Witch and the Captain by D.K. Marley
🧙♀️ Seafaring adventures, forbidden love, and dangerous magic.
When a witch is captured by a dashing sea captain in the midst of a storm, their destinies become entwined in a tale of love, betrayal, and ancient curses.
💭 Why it’s riveting: The swashbuckling adventure combined with steamy tension makes this book impossible to put down.
9. The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk
C. L. Polk wrote her first story in grade school and still hasn’t learned any better. After spending years in strange occupations and wandering western Canada, she settled in southern Alberta and is here to stay. She has a fondness for knitting, bicycles, and single estate coffee. C. L. has had short stories published in Baen’s UNIVERSE and Gothic.net, and contributed to the web serial Shadow Unit. She spends too much time on twitter at @clpolk.
💍 Magic, marriage contracts, and a feminist twist on 18th-century conventions.
Beatrice wants to become a full-fledged sorceress, but society demands she suppress her powers for marriage. As she navigates ballrooms and secret rituals, she must choose between love and magic.
💭 Why it’s empowering: Polk delivers a fiercely feminist tale filled with swoon-worthy romance and dazzling magic.
10. Venom & Velvet by Antoinette
Dani Antoinette is a self-confessed bookworm, hopeless romantic, and purveyor of darkly delicious love stories. She writes gripping tales featuring relentless, morally gray men who will do anything to claim the fierce, unbreakable women who challenge them…all wrapped up in a tantalizing mix of power and obsession. When Dani isn’t busy devouring books at her favorite downtown Chicago café, she’s out in the wild causing chaos.
🔮 Espionage, enchanted masks, and a masked ball where secrets reign supreme.
In a city reminiscent of 18th-century Venice, a daring spy and a beautiful enchantress must join forces to unravel a dark conspiracy.
💭 Why it’s a hidden gem: The intricate plot and sizzling chemistry between the leads make for a tantalizing read.
Which 1700s Fantasy Tale Enchants You Most?
Whether you crave seafaring adventures, magical intrigue, or heart-pounding romance, these books offer a captivating blend of history and fantasy. Have a favorite we missed? Share your top picks below—your next magical escape might just be waiting! ⚓✨
