12 books exploring rivalries in magical institutions
Magic schools aren’t just places of learning—they’re arenas where ambitions clash, alliances form, and rivalries ignite like wildfire. Within these enchanted halls, friendships are tested, secrets are weaponized, and the fight for power is as intense as any spell duel. If you love stories where magic fuels not only spells but sizzling conflicts, this list of twelve spellbinding books will sweep you into worlds where rivalry is the heartbeat of every lesson. Prepare for enchanted feuds, bitter competitions, and the electrifying tension of magical institutions at war with themselves.
1. “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling
From house rivalries to the ultimate battle against dark forces, Hogwarts is the quintessential battleground where loyalty and rivalry intertwine with magic.
2. “A Deadly Education” by Naomi Novik
At Scholomance, students don’t just compete academically—they fight for survival, making every rivalry a matter of life, death, and dark enchantments.
3. “The School for Good and Evil” by Soman Chainani
Two schools, two opposing destinies—heroes vs villains. Rivalry runs deep when your fate is decided by which side of the magical spectrum you belong.
4. “Magisterium” series by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Friendship and rivalry blur as young mages navigate a school filled with secrets, deception, and the haunting question of whether your enemy is also your fate.
5. “Nevernight” by Jay Kristoff
The Red Church is an academy where assassins in training push boundaries, and rival factions clash in a deadly game of power and revenge.
6. “The Bone Season” by Samantha Shannon
In a dystopian magical world, clairvoyants compete for influence in a hidden academy where betrayal is as common as spellcasting.
7. “Truthwitch” by Susan Dennard
Amid political intrigue and magic, rival witches grapple with loyalty and power struggles, making their magical education a battlefield.
8. “The Black Witch” by Laurie Forest
Elloren’s defiance against the strict magical hierarchy ignites fierce rivalries that threaten to unravel the academy’s dark secrets.
9. “Red Queen” by Victoria Aveyard
Though more a kingdom than a school, the magical elite’s divisions and rivalries echo the tension of any fierce academy showdown.
10. “Sorcery of Thorns” by Margaret Rogerson
In a library full of magical grimoires, rivalry between sorcerers and librarians sparks a deadly contest of wits and spells.
11. “Grave Mercy” by Robin LaFevers
Within a convent training deadly assassins with magical gifts, rivalries simmer beneath vows of silence and loyalty.
12. “The Young Elites” by Marie Lu
A secret academy for the magically gifted hides dark rivalries where trust is scarce and power is everything.
Whether fueled by ambition, jealousy, or survival, these magical rivalries crackle with tension and drama. They remind us that behind every spell lies a story of competition, and every enchanted classroom conceals battles just as fierce as any war. Ready to witness magic’s sharpest duels? These twelve books will cast a spell you won’t soon forget.
