14 books where technology tries to suppress magic
In worlds where the hum of machines drowns out the whisper of spells, an electrifying war rages beneath the surface—technology, with its cold logic and relentless progress, seeks to crush the ancient forces of magic that have shaped existence since time immemorial. This conflict sparks tales of resistance, rebellion, and the indomitable spirit of the mystical clinging to survival against mechanized oppression.
If you’re captivated by stories where enchanted realms fight to break free from the tightening grip of technology, these 14 books where technology tries to suppress magic will plunge you into a charged atmosphere where gears grind against incantations, and the future is anyone’s to claim.
1. The Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
In a post-apocalyptic world dominated by gigantic moving cities and relentless machines, remnants of magical lore struggle to survive, suppressed by the iron fist of technological dominance.
2. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
A dystopian society uses advanced surveillance and brutal tech to control clairvoyants—magical beings hunted and oppressed by the cold machinery of the state.
3. Arcane Ascension by Andrew Rowe
Magic and knowledge clash with scientific rigor as technologists seek to catalog, control, and ultimately limit the unpredictable power of sorcery.
4. The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne
Ancient druids and gods face off against a modern world increasingly reliant on technology, which threatens to erase the old magic and the wisdom that comes with it.
5. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
In a kingdom where magical books hold dangerous power, new technologies and political forces aim to control—and suppress—the ancient mystical arts.
6. The Rook by Daniel O’Malley
A secret supernatural agency fights to maintain magical order, battling technological factions that seek to control or eliminate inexplicable powers.
7. Warcross by Marie Lu
In a hyperconnected world where virtual technology rules, underground magical forces resist the dominance of digital control and surveillance.
8. The Clockwork Dynasty by Daniel H. Wilson
Mechanical automatons awaken amidst a war between technology and magic, where ancient sorcery tries to outwit relentless technological innovation.
9. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
As magic students learn their craft, they face a world increasingly skeptical and governed by technological advancement, challenging the survival of mystical knowledge.
10. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
A vibrant magical world is crushed under the heel of a technologically driven regime determined to eradicate all traces of sorcery.
11. The Quantum Magician by Derek Künsken
In a futuristic landscape, advanced technology seeks to quantify and suppress unpredictable magical phenomena that threaten the order of science.
12. Arcadia by Iain Pears
A richly woven tale where scientific progress battles ancient magical forces that refuse to fade quietly into the night.
13. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Amidst the rise of modernity and technology, two mystical beings struggle to exist and resist erasure in a world rapidly moving toward mechanized rationality.
14. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
After a global collapse, survivors cling to art, myth, and magical stories to resist a return to cold, harsh technological control, reminding us that magic is often more than just spells—it’s hope.
Why This Struggle Fascinates Us
Because it’s a fight for balance—the push and pull between the ancient mysteries that connect us to something greater and the technological advancements that shape our future. These stories capture the tension between wonder and control, chaos and order, magic and machine.
Ready to witness the clash? Dive into these fourteen worlds where magic refuses to be silenced, and technology races to rewrite the rules. The war is far from over.
