7 books with maps leading to forgotten realms
Maps have always held a special kind of magic in stories, their intricate lines and symbols guiding readers toward distant lands, forgotten treasures, and hidden realms. In the world of fantasy, a map is more than just a guide—it’s an invitation to adventure, mystery, and the possibility of discovering something long lost to time. These seven books transport readers through maps that lead to forgotten realms, places where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and every turn brings a new revelation. Step into these forgotten worlds and lose yourself in the thrill of the unknown.
1. The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
A Map to a World Beneath the Veil
In The City of Brass, Nahri, a street-smart healer from 18th-century Cairo, stumbles upon an ancient map that leads her to the hidden, magical city of Daevabad. The city is a world within a world, a realm of djinn, political intrigue, and ancient magic. As Nahri navigates the labyrinthine streets of Daevabad, the map she holds becomes a symbol of both hope and danger, offering a glimpse into a realm long forgotten by both mortals and immortals alike. With each page turned, the city’s secrets unravel, and so does the map’s power.
2. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
A Map to a Dreamlike World of Wonders
The circus in The Night Circus isn’t just any traveling show—it’s a fantastical realm of magic, wonder, and illusion. Though not a literal map, Morgenstern’s novel creates a map of the senses, with every corner of the circus offering a new and unexpected realm. Celia and Marco, the two magical prodigies, create a world within the circus that blurs the lines between reality and dream. As the circus stretches across the globe, its labyrinth of tents is a metaphorical map to a forgotten world—one that can only be entered by those who understand its hidden rules.
3. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
A Map Leading to Parallel Worlds
In the first book of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, the young Lyra Belacqua embarks on a journey to the far north, guided by an intricate map and a device called an alethiometer (or golden compass). The map is a key that opens doors to worlds beyond her own—a multiverse filled with armored bears, witches, and the mysterious Dust. As Lyra crosses into worlds both familiar and strange, the map she holds doesn’t just chart the land—it’s a map to lost knowledge and the untold secrets of existence itself.
4. The Lost City of Z by David Grann
A Map to an Uncharted Territory
While not a work of pure fiction, The Lost City of Z reads like an adventure tale of mythic proportions. Based on the true story of explorer Percy Fawcett’s search for the ancient city of Z in the Brazilian jungle, this book is filled with maps, both real and imagined, that led explorers through treacherous terrain toward a place that may or may not exist. The story itself is a quest for truth, a map to understanding not just a lost civilization but the very heart of human ambition. In Fawcett’s relentless pursuit of the unknown, the map serves as both guide and enigma.
5. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Maps Leading to Worlds Beyond the Wardrobe
In The Chronicles of Narnia, each book is a journey to a hidden, fantastical realm where talking animals, magical creatures, and epic adventures await. The most iconic of these is, of course, the wardrobe that leads to Narnia, but throughout the series, maps guide the characters through this magical land. The realms of Narnia—whether they are lush forests, icy kingdoms, or vast oceans—are both mysterious and familiar. With each new map, readers are invited to explore deeper into Narnia’s forgotten places, places where ancient powers are waiting to be awakened.
6. The Map of Time by Félix J. Palma
A Map to Time Itself
In The Map of Time, the very fabric of reality is unspooled through the eyes of time travelers who navigate not only through space but across different eras. The map, an ancient document hidden in the folds of history, becomes a gateway to an impossible realm—where time itself can be bent, broken, and rewritten. Palma’s novel intertwines time travel with historical events and speculative fiction, creating a map to realms forgotten by history, where the impossible becomes possible, and every choice leads to a new path through time.
7. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
A Map Leading to Lost Treasure
The classic tale of Bilbo Baggins’ unexpected adventure begins with a map—one that leads him to the Lonely Mountain, home to the dragon Smaug and a treasure hoard of unimaginable wealth. Alongside the map, Bilbo is propelled into a world of goblins, elves, and dwarves, as the quest to reclaim a lost treasure becomes a journey through forgotten lands. Tolkien’s masterful world-building creates realms long lost to time, and the map in The Hobbit serves as a key to unlocking these forgotten places. Each step in the journey reveals more of the world’s hidden magic and the ancient mysteries buried within.
Conclusion
Maps are often the gateway to adventure, but the maps in these seven books offer more than just directions—they reveal realms forgotten, lost to time, or veiled in mystery. From the intricate pathways leading to magical cities to the uncharted territories of forgotten civilizations, these stories remind us of the allure of the unknown. With each map, characters venture into new worlds where discovery, danger, and transformation await. And as readers, we are invited to travel alongside them, exploring realms that have been hidden away and waiting to be rediscovered.
