10 books about siblings with magical bonds

There’s something uniquely powerful about sibling relationships—especially when magic is involved. From shared destinies to unbreakable connections that transcend the ordinary, siblings with magical bonds are often the heart of fantastical stories. These books explore the deep, sometimes dangerous, and always fascinating ties that bind brothers and sisters together through extraordinary circumstances. Whether through inherited powers or an ancient curse, these siblings are united by more than blood—they share a force greater than themselves.

1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

In The Night Circus, magic doesn’t just live in the circus tents—it thrives in the bond between two siblings, Celia and Marco, who are bound by a mysterious, centuries-old competition. Raised apart by their mentors, they are unaware of each other’s existence until their destinies collide. As they begin to uncover the truth about their magical connection, the stakes of their bond become increasingly dangerous, and their love for each other could mean the difference between life and death. Morgenstern’s tale is an enchanting, atmospheric journey through a world of illusion and deep, magical sibling ties.

2. The Magicians Trilogy by Lev Grossman

In The Magicians, siblings are not always born from the same parents, but their bond is one of powerful magic and shared experiences. While the story primarily focuses on Quentin Coldwater and his journey into the magical realm of Fillory, it also beautifully explores the relationships he forms with his friends, including his surrogate siblings, Alice and Eliot. As they navigate the magical world together, their bond grows stronger, tested by both personal and magical challenges. The magical dynamic between these characters, despite being complicated and sometimes strained, ultimately illustrates how chosen family can feel just as strong as blood ties.

3. The Sibling’s Curse by Natalie Yacavone

In The Sibling’s Curse, twin sisters Emma and Claire share a magical connection that has been passed down through their family for generations. While they seem to live ordinary lives, their bond grants them the ability to communicate telepathically and wield elemental magic. As a dark force threatens their family, they must learn to trust each other’s instincts and navigate their growing powers, which may be the key to their survival. Yacavone’s novel is a gripping tale about the strength of sibling bonds and the magic that can both empower and haunt them.

4. The Sisters Grimm Series by Michael Buckley

The Sisters Grimm series follows two sisters, Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, who are descendants of the famous Brothers Grimm, destined to become detectives in a world where fairy tales are real. The sisters have a magical bond that helps them solve mysteries involving the magical creatures who live in Ferryport Landing. As they uncover family secrets and face increasingly dangerous foes, their connection proves to be their greatest strength. Buckley’s books are packed with adventure, humor, and the magic that lies within familial loyalty.

5. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

In The Lunar Chronicles, the bond between two sisters, Cinder and Princess Selene, is wrapped in secrets, power, and betrayal. While the story centers on Cinder, a cyborg mechanic, her magical connection to her sister, who is the lost heir to the Lunar throne, becomes a key to the fate of their world. Their sibling bond is tested by deception, danger, and their intertwined destinies, but it is the love and loyalty they have for each other that proves to be an unbreakable thread in this futuristic, fairy-tale retelling.

6. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Though not typically thought of as a “magical” story, The Brothers Karamazov has a profound exploration of the spiritual and emotional bonds between siblings. Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha Karamazov are caught in a complex web of familial love, guilt, and religious debate. While the magic here is philosophical and moral, rather than supernatural, the bond between the brothers is profound—each seeking redemption, truth, and reconciliation in a world full of questions and turmoil. Dostoevsky’s novel is a deep, powerful meditation on family, faith, and the eternal struggle for meaning.

7. The Tapestry Series by Henry H. Neff

In The Hound of Rowan, the first book in The Tapestry series, Max McDaniels discovers he has inherited powerful magical abilities and is thrust into a world of ancient powers, prophecy, and dark forces. He forms an intense bond with his magical sibling, a fellow student named Lily, who becomes both his protector and his guide in this new world. Their relationship transcends traditional sibling rivalry, as they uncover hidden truths about their shared heritage and navigate a web of secrets that will shape the fate of their world.

8. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

In The Raven Cycle, the supernatural bond between Gansey and his friends is profound, but the magical sibling-like connections among the characters create a unique, deeply emotional core. Ronan and Declan Lynch, brothers with a turbulent and often violent past, share a magical connection that grows throughout the series. Ronan has the ability to bring objects from his dreams to life, a gift that holds both immense power and devastating consequences. Their bond, strained by years of distance and conflict, is ultimately one of the series’ most compelling aspects. Stiefvater masterfully blends magic, family, and self-discovery as the characters learn to trust each other again.

9. The Magic of Us by Sarah Fine

In The Magic of Us, siblings Kaia and Luka possess a deep magical connection that allows them to manipulate the elements around them. The story explores their strained relationship, built on years of competition and miscommunication, and how their bond is tested when an external force seeks to tear them apart. Their powers, once a source of division, ultimately become a symbol of unity as they work to heal their fractured relationship. Fine’s story highlights the tension between individuality and familial connection, as well as the transformative power of magic in rebuilding what was once broken.

10. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

In Wicked Lovely, Melissa Marr introduces a world where faeries, magic, and family secrets collide. Aislinn has grown up with the ability to see faeries, but when she discovers her family’s hidden magical history, she learns that her bond with her cousin Seth is far more significant than she ever imagined. Together, they must navigate the treacherous politics of the faerie world, where their connection becomes both a powerful weapon and a source of danger. Marr’s novel is a vivid exploration of how family ties—especially those strengthened by magic—can be the key to survival in a world where everything, including trust, is uncertain.

Final Thoughts

Siblings with magical bonds are an enduring and captivating trope in fantasy literature. These relationships are complex, often testing the limits of love, trust, and sacrifice. Whether through inherited powers, shared destinies, or simply the unique magic that binds siblings together, these 10 books are an invitation to explore the extraordinary connections that run deeper than blood. In each of these stories, the magic is not just in the powers the characters wield, but in the way they come to understand and protect each other despite the odds.

For readers who long for stories where family ties are both magical and transformative, these books are a perfect fit—proof that, in fantasy and in life, the bonds of family can be the strongest magic of all.