7 Fantasy Books About Mapmakers
Maps hold more than just directions—they tell stories, reveal secrets, and sometimes, hold magic within their inked lines. In fantasy, mapmakers aren’t just cartographers; they’re explorers, truth-seekers, and even wielders of forbidden knowledge. Some draw maps that shape reality, others chart lands long forgotten, and a few find themselves trapped inside their own creations.
If you love epic journeys, hidden worlds, and maps that lead to adventure, these 7 fantasy books about mapmakers will take you to places beyond imagination.
1. The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
🗺️ A Mysterious Map That Shouldn’t Exist
Nell Young has spent her life studying maps, but when she discovers an old gas station map among her late father’s belongings, everything changes. The map leads to a place that shouldn’t exist—and there are powerful people willing to kill for it. As she unravels its secrets, Nell finds herself entangled in a mystery that could rewrite history.
📖 Read if you love: Magical realism, dark academia, and historical conspiracies.
2. The Mapmaker’s War by Ronlyn Domingue
🗺️ A Cartographer Exiled for Telling the Truth
In a world where maps are political power, a young woman becomes the kingdom’s official mapmaker. But when she discovers a utopian land and refuses to lie about its existence, she is banished from her own home. As she journeys beyond the borders of her old life, she must decide if she can ever truly belong again.
📖 Read if you love: Lyrical storytelling, feminist fantasy, and introspective journeys.
3. The Glass Sentence by S.E. Grove
🗺️ A World Where Time Itself Has Shattered
In this alternative history fantasy, the world was torn apart by the Great Disruption, leaving different continents trapped in different time periods. Young Sophia lives with her uncle, a famed cartologer who creates maps that do more than guide—they reveal the past, present, and future. But when he’s kidnapped, Sophia must embark on a journey across time-torn landscapes to save him.
📖 Read if you love: Time travel, adventure fantasy, and rich worldbuilding.
4. The Shadow Cartographer by James Peak
🗺️ A Mapmaker Who Charts the Supernatural
Not all maps show roads and rivers—some reveal things hidden in the dark. When a young cartographer discovers he can map the unseen, he is recruited by a secret society to chart the supernatural world. But the more he maps, the more he realizes that some places should never be put on paper.
📖 Read if you love: Gothic fantasy, haunted landscapes, and eerie, atmospheric storytelling.
5. The Thousand Deaths of Ardor Benn by Tyler Whitesides
🗺️ A Heist Where Maps Hold the Key to Magic
Ardor Benn is a con artist, thief, and master of deception, but to pull off the greatest heist of his life, he needs a legendary mapmaker. This high-stakes adventure is filled with alchemy, sky pirates, and maps that lead to forbidden treasures. If you love books that mix humor, adventure, and brilliant worldbuilding, this one’s for you.
📖 Read if you love: Heist fantasy, rogue protagonists, and cinematic action.
6. The Map of Time by Félix J. Palma
🗺️ A Map That Can Rewrite Reality
What if maps could do more than lead you to new places—what if they could lead you through time? In Victorian London, a mysterious map allows its holder to travel across different eras, but at a cost. As three intertwined stories unfold, the boundaries of time, love, and fate blur in this mind-bending historical fantasy.
📖 Read if you love: Steampunk fantasy, time travel, and literary puzzles.
7. Map of Shadows by J.F. Penn
🗺️ A Mapmaker Who Can Open Portals to Other Worlds
Sienna’s grandfather has died, leaving her a map that can open doors to shadow realms. But as she uncovers its secrets, she realizes that she has inherited a dangerous legacy—one that others will kill to control. To survive, she must navigate worlds beyond imagination and discover the truth behind her family’s power.
📖 Read if you love: Portal fantasy, dark magic, and thrilling mysteries.
Lost in the Magic of Maps
These fantastical journeys prove that maps are more than just guides—they are keys to adventure, history, and hidden truths. Whether they lead to lost cities, haunted lands, or different time periods, these books will transport you to worlds etched in ink and wonder.
Which one will you explore first? Or do you have a favorite mapmaker fantasy to recommend? Let’s chart the course together! 🗺️📖✨
