10 books about a world where magic is outlawed by technological powers
Imagine a world where the shimmer of spells is no longer a source of wonder, but a dangerous secret—where ancient magic is outlawed, hunted by ruthless technological regimes that seek to control every spark of power. In these gripping tales, magic becomes a forbidden flame, flickering in the shadows as brave souls fight to keep its light alive against cold, calculating machines.
If you crave stories thick with tension, rebellion, and the clash between mystical heritage and ironclad control, dive into these 10 books about worlds where magic is outlawed by technological powers—where the battle for freedom is as much about reclaiming wonder as it is survival.
1. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
In a dystopian future, clairvoyance is forbidden by a brutal, tech-driven regime. The gifted must hide or face devastating consequences, sparking an underground fight for the soul of magic itself.
2. The Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole
In a post-apocalyptic world dominated by technology, those with magical gifts become fugitives. This series explores the dangerous power struggles that erupt when magic refuses to die quietly.
3. Vicious by V.E. Schwab
Here, extraordinary powers emerge but are swiftly suppressed by a society ruled by scientific rationalism, turning magic-wielders into criminals in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse.
4. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
In a land where magic is feared and outlawed, a young girl’s forbidden powers become the catalyst for change, challenging the oppressive order with a quiet but fierce rebellion.
5. The City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett
When the gods—and their magic—are banished by a technologically dominant empire, the remnants of divine power hide in plain sight, threatening to unravel the new world order.
6. Warcross by Marie Lu
In a future ruled by virtual reality and tech giants, real magic is outlawed and ridiculed. But beneath the digital facade, the old forces of enchantment still pulse with dangerous potential.
7. The Mechanical by Ian Tregillis
In a world where magic and technology collide, mechanized enforcers hunt down sorcerers, raising haunting questions about control, freedom, and the price of power.
8. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
A ruthless empire uses technology and brutal law to suppress ancient magic and rebellion alike, but hidden magic flickers in the hearts of those daring enough to resist.
9. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
The protagonist lives in a society where clairvoyance is outlawed and punished with harsh measures by a tech-controlled government, leading to a desperate fight for survival and truth.
10. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
In a world where faerie magic is feared and oppressed by mortal rule and technology, power struggles ignite—proving that outlawed magic is never truly gone, only waiting to rise again.
Why These Stories Captivate
Because they explore the fierce tension between wonder and control, freedom and oppression. They show us that when the forces of magic are crushed beneath the weight of technology’s iron fist, the human spirit—and the spark of enchantment—find ways to resist, rebel, and reclaim their place.
Ready to step into worlds where magic is a dangerous secret and every spell is an act of defiance? These ten books will pull you into the heart of rebellion, where the outlawed become legends, and the fight for magic becomes the fight for hope itself.
