12 books where dark magic is a source of power
In the world of fantasy, power is rarely clean—and magic that emerges from the darkness is the most seductive of all. It calls softly at first, like the rustle of silk in a silent room. But once the shadows have touched you, they leave a mark.
Dark magic is power that whispers, that tempts, that transforms. It’s the sorcery wielded in defiance, born from grief, rage, and hunger. It’s dangerous—but oh, how compelling. The following books feature characters who embrace that danger, wielding dark magic not just as a tool, but as an identity.
These aren’t stories of light triumphing easily over dark. These are tales of bargains struck in blood, of monsters hiding in mirrors, and of heroes who toe the edge of ruin to grasp greatness.
1. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Rin discovers her aptitude for shamanic magic isn’t divine—it’s apocalyptic. By communing with the Phoenix god through pain and psychedelic rituals, she taps into a terrifying reservoir of power. What begins as vengeance becomes war, and Rin must ask how much of herself she’s willing to burn for victory.
2. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
At the Scholomance, survival is the syllabus—and El’s innate affinity for destruction magic makes her both feared and misunderstood. She could wipe out entire classes with ease, but must fight every day not to become the villain she’s fated to be. Power pulses through her veins, black as ink, waiting.
3. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Lou is a witch who has turned her back on her coven, but the magic that lingers in her bones is wild, dark, and primal. Her relationship with forbidden spells and secret knowledge entwines dangerously with her enemies—and her heart. In this world, dark magic is both a weapon and a curse.
4. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
In the heart of old Russia, magic sleeps beneath snow and church bells. Vasilisa walks between the old gods and the new, discovering that the shadowed, forgotten powers may be the only thing that can save her village. Arden’s tale reads like a whispered legend, where dark magic is woven into folklore and frost.
5. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
Emilia’s twin sister is murdered, and to find the killer, Emilia summons a demon prince from hell. Her descent into dark magic is equal parts wrath and seduction—a path paved with bone, blood, and broken taboos. This is witchcraft kissed by fire and temptation.
6. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Orogenes wield seismic magic that others fear, and Essun must hide her power or die. But that power—capable of cracking mountains—is tied to earth’s deepest, darkest forces. Jemisin builds a world where magic is as devastating as it is necessary, and where darkness may be the only hope left.
7. Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
In a land cleaved by war and blood, Nadya speaks to gods, but her companions—especially the alluring Malachiasz—have been shaped by forbidden, monstrous magic. Shadow, blood, and divinity twist together in this gothic tale where salvation and corruption are hard to tell apart.
8. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
While much of the tale hinges on fire-breathing dragons and political intrigue, the magic of the Nameless One is born of shadows and chaos. Those who tap into his legacy wield a foul but potent energy, and the choice to use it is never without cost.
9. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
Xifeng is destined for greatness—but only if she embraces the dark sorcery pulsing within her. Loosely inspired by the Evil Queen myth, this is a tale of ambition, transformation, and the hunger that grows with every spell cast. The forest doesn’t offer power freely; it demands a piece of your soul.
10. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
In a world inspired by pre-Columbian mythology, Serapio has been raised as a vessel for a god of darkness. The magic that courses through him is celestial, ancient, and terrifying in its inevitability. His path is one of blood and prophecy—and the dark never apologizes.
11. The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
Alessandra plans to woo, marry, and then kill the Shadow King. But his magic—a dark veil that kills on touch—intrigues her more than she expected. This is a sharp, sexy story of ambition and attraction where power is seductive, and darkness is part of the allure.
12. Vicious by V.E. Schwab
Victor and Eli aren’t born with powers—they make themselves extraordinary by dying and coming back. Victor’s abilities are cold and cruel, and his magic bends pain like a sculptor shaping marble. In Schwab’s morally gray world, darkness isn’t a flaw—it’s a feature.
✨ The Allure of Dark Magic
Dark magic is power with teeth. It is the antithesis of safety, of light, of rules. But it’s also thrilling—because it asks what we’d be willing to do, or become, to protect what we love… or seize what we desire.
If you’ve ever been fascinated by the shadow behind the hero, the sorcerer with blood-stained hands, or the spell that should never be spoken aloud—
these are the books that call to you.
Just remember: once you step into the dark… it sees you too.
