7 Books Set During World War Ii With Magical Elements
World War II was a time of unparalleled darkness, yet within that struggle, stories of hope, resilience, and extraordinary power emerged. Now, imagine this tumultuous era infused with enchantment, secret sorcery, and supernatural forces shaping the fate of nations. These books masterfully blend historical fiction with the fantastical, weaving spells amid air raids and hiding secrets in the shadows of war.
For readers who love both historical drama and magic, these seven novels offer a glimpse into an alternate WWII—one where sorcery, mythical creatures, and supernatural forces change the course of history.
1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
📖 A Story Told by Death, With a Girl Who Steals Words
In Nazi Germany, a young girl named Liesel Meminger discovers the power of words as she steals books and learns to read. But there’s something extraordinary about her journey—this tale is narrated by Death itself, an all-seeing entity who watches history unfold with a chilling, poetic detachment.
🔮 Magical Element: Death’s omniscient, eerie narration adds a surreal and almost mythical quality to the novel, turning history into something both haunting and otherworldly.
📖 Why Read It?
✔ A beautifully written, heartbreaking tale
✔ A fresh, poetic perspective on WWII
✔ A reminder of the power of words and storytelling
2. The Wolf’s Hour by Robert R. McCammon
🐺 A Werewolf Spy Fighting the Nazis
Michael Gallatin is a British secret agent with an incredible ability—he is also a werewolf. As the war rages, Michael uses his supernatural gifts to go behind enemy lines, hunting Nazis with the ferocity of a beast while uncovering a deadly plot that could change the course of history.
🔮 Magical Element: The protagonist’s lycanthropic nature adds a thrilling, supernatural twist to the classic WWII espionage thriller.
📖 Why Read It?
✔ A unique blend of spy thriller and supernatural horror
✔ Intense action and heart-pounding suspense
✔ A gripping, cinematic take on WWII storytelling
3. The Midnight Front by David Mack
🔮 Secret Warlocks and the Battle for the World
The Nazis aren’t just using tanks and bombs in this war—they’re wielding dark magic. When Cade Martin’s parents are murdered, he’s thrust into a hidden war of sorcery, joining an elite group of Allied warlocks known as The Midnight Front. With spells as deadly as bullets, Cade must master arcane powers before the enemy sorcerers, The Thule Society, plunge the world into an age of darkness.
🔮 Magical Element: A full-fledged war of magic alongside WWII, where spellcraft is as crucial as military strategy.
📖 Why Read It?
✔ Epic battles between sorcerers and Nazis
✔ A thrilling mix of espionage, history, and fantasy
✔ Perfect for fans of alternate history and dark magic
4. Wolfhound Century by Peter Higgins
🕵️ A Soviet-Inspired Dystopia With Living Stone Golems
In a war-torn world inspired by Stalinist Russia and WWII Europe, investigator Vissarion Lom is sent to stop a revolutionary plot—but the war he fights is not entirely human. The world is filled with magical creatures, stone golems, and sentient rain, and reality itself bends under the weight of ancient forces awakening.
🔮 Magical Element: The setting is infused with mythic, eerie magic, where industrial war collides with living, sentient landscapes.
📖 Why Read It?
✔ A dark, dreamlike blend of war, noir, and folklore
✔ Unpredictable and deeply atmospheric
✔ Ideal for fans of alternative history with a surreal twist
5. Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis
🧬 Nazi Super-Soldiers vs. British Warlocks
What if the Nazis had engineered superhumans? And what if the Allies had summoned eldritch entities to fight them? In this alternate WWII, the Germans deploy children enhanced with psychic and supernatural abilities, while the British counter with blood magic and forbidden spells. The result? A terrifying war fought on both battlefields and in the realm of the supernatural.
🔮 Magical Element: A high-stakes battle between genetic engineering and sorcery, blending science fiction and fantasy.
📖 Why Read It?
✔ A gripping mix of occult horror and war fiction
✔ Tense, action-packed, and deeply unsettling
✔ A chilling “what if” scenario that feels terrifyingly real
6. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
📜 A WWII Historian Uncovers a Witch’s Legacy
While researching WWII-era archives, graduate student Connie Goodwin stumbles upon an ancient book filled with strange spells. As she delves deeper, she uncovers a hidden lineage of witches whose magic may have shaped key events in history—including the war. But the deeper she digs, the more she realizes she may not be the only one searching for the truth.
🔮 Magical Element: A long-lost book of witchcraft tied to historical events, with its magic influencing WWII.
📖 Why Read It?
✔ A spellbinding blend of historical fiction and the occult
✔ Mystery, intrigue, and eerie discoveries
✔ Perfect for fans of witch lore and secret histories
7. The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby
🏙️ A Secret Magic Hidden in War-Torn Cities
Set in an alternate version of New York, where a mysterious mechanical and magical infrastructure was built centuries ago, this novel follows three kids who discover an encrypted puzzle linked to World War II. As they race against time, they realize that history has been shaped by hidden forces—and that WWII’s battles weren’t fought with weapons alone.
🔮 Magical Element: A secret magical technology influencing history, hidden in plain sight.
📖 Why Read It?
✔ A mix of historical mystery, adventure, and magic
✔ Fast-paced and full of mind-bending puzzles
✔ A fresh, young-adult take on WWII’s hidden secrets
⚡ History Rewritten With Magic
The horrors of WWII were very real, but in these novels, history is rewritten with hidden spells, supernatural forces, and magical resistance fighters. Whether it’s warlocks battling Nazi sorcerers, werewolves fighting behind enemy lines, or ancient mysteries shaping the war, these books offer a fresh, thrilling perspective on one of the world’s darkest chapters.
📚 Which one will you pick up first? Or do you have a favorite WWII fantasy novel to recommend? ✨
