Best Forbidden Magic Books

The highest-rated books featuring the Forbidden Magic trope, ranked by readers and listeners. Browse 50 titles across Fantasy, Romance.

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Forbidden magic is the ultimate power fantasy wrapped in genuine danger. There's an electric thrill in watching characters cross boundaries society has declared sacred, knowing each spell cast could unravel everything. The best forbidden magic stories make you complicit—you're rooting for the transgression even as dread builds about what it will cost. These aren't stories about heroes following the rules; they're about people deciding the rules deserve to be broken, and paying the price in ways that feel earned rather than arbitrary.

You'll find this trope across dark fantasy, paranormal romance, and literary fantasy. The 157 books here span morally gray sorcerers, ancient witches reclaiming suppressed power, and rebels building magic systems from scratch. Expect richly realized magical worlds with real stakes, characters who can't undo their choices, and that delicious tension of knowing something forbidden is worth it—or might not be.

  1. 1
    Cold Days cover

    Cold Days

    The Dresden Files • Book 14

    by Jim Butcher

    ★ 4.73 BLT Score (107.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.47 Goodreads (107.2K)
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  2. 2
    Crown of Midnight cover

    Crown of Midnight

    Throne of Glass • Book 2

    by Sarah J. Maas

    ★ 4.67 BLT Score (1.8M ratings)
    ★ 4.36 Goodreads (1.8M)
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  3. 3
    Quicksilver cover

    Quicksilver

    The Fae & Alchemy Series • Book 1

    by Callie Hart

    ★ 4.64 BLT Score (889.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.32 Goodreads (889.6K)
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  4. 4
    Circe cover

    Circe

    by Madeline Miller

    ★ 4.58 BLT Score (1.4M ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (1.4M)
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  5. 5
    Warbreaker cover

    Warbreaker

    The Cosmere • Book 5

    by Brandon Sanderson

    ★ 4.55 BLT Score (285.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.29 Goodreads (285.7K)
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  6. 6
    Howl's Moving Castle cover

    Howl's Moving Castle

    Howl's Castle • Book 1

    by Diana Wynne Jones

    ★ 4.51 BLT Score (453.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.28 Goodreads (453.3K)
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  7. 7
    The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E Schwab (Illumicrate 'Life and Death' Exclusive) cover
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  8. 8
    The Silver Thief cover

    The Silver Thief

    The Cycle of Galand • Book 2

    by Edward W. Robertson

    ★ 4.49 BLT Score (2.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.41 Goodreads (2.6K)
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  9. 9
    From Blood and Ash cover

    From Blood and Ash

    Blood and Ash • Book 1

    by Jennifer L. Armentrout

    ★ 4.49 BLT Score (867.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.21 Goodreads (867.8K)
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  10. 10
    Beyond the Veil cover

    Beyond the Veil

    The Grey Wolves • Book 5

    by Quinn Loftis

    ★ 4.46 BLT Score (14.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.48 Goodreads (14.3K)
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  11. 11
    The Iron Flower cover

    The Iron Flower

    The Black Witch Chronicles • Book 2

    by Laurie Forest

    ★ 4.45 BLT Score (30.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.3 Goodreads (30.8K)
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  12. 12
    The Choice of Magic cover

    The Choice of Magic

    Art of the Adept • Book 1

    by Michael G. Manning

    ★ 4.45 BLT Score (8.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.4 Goodreads (8.5K)
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  13. 13
    Hunger cover

    Hunger

    Unbound • Book 3

    by Nicoli Gonnella

    ★ 4.43 BLT Score (5.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.42 Goodreads (5.6K)
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  14. 14
    Kushiel's Avatar cover

    Kushiel's Avatar

    Phèdre's Trilogy • Book 3

    by Jacqueline Carey

    ★ 4.42 BLT Score (38.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.38 Goodreads (38.0K)
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  15. 15
    Spinning Silver cover

    Spinning Silver

    The Mortal Instruments

    by Naomi Novik

    ★ 4.41 BLT Score (154.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.18 Goodreads (154.1K)
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  16. 16
    The Emperor's Soul cover

    The Emperor's Soul

    Elantris • Book 2

    by Brandon Sanderson

    ★ 4.38 BLT Score (133.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.37 Goodreads (133.7K)
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  17. 17
    Sabriel cover

    Sabriel

    Abhorsen/The Old Kingdom • Book 1

    by Garth Nix

    ★ 4.37 BLT Score (219.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.16 Goodreads (219.2K)
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  18. 18
    The Sword of Truth Books 1 to 4: 1. Wizard's First Rule, 2. Stone of Tears, 3. Blood of the Fold, 4. Temple of the Winds cover

    The Sword of Truth Books 1 to 4: 1. Wizard's First Rule, 2. Stone of Tears, 3. Blood of the Fold, 4. Temple of the Winds

    Sword of Truth • Book 1

    by Terry Goodkind

    ★ 4.34 BLT Score (254.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.12 Goodreads (254.2K)
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  19. 19
    Anathema cover

    Anathema

    The Eating Woods • Book 1

    by Keri Lake

    ★ 4.34 BLT Score (115.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.2 Goodreads (115.2K)
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  20. 20
    The Shadow of What Was Lost cover

    The Shadow of What Was Lost

    The Licanius Trilogy • Book 1

    by James Islington

    ★ 4.33 BLT Score (91.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.14 Goodreads (91.9K)
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  21. 21
    Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery cover

    Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery

    by Brom

    ★ 4.31 BLT Score (111.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.2 Goodreads (111.1K)
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  22. 22
    Hell Bent cover

    Hell Bent

    Alex Stern • Book 2

    by Leigh Bardugo

    ★ 4.30 BLT Score (183.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.1 Goodreads (183.8K)
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  23. 23
    Autumn Magic cover

    Autumn Magic

    Thorne Witches • Book 2

    by T.M. Cromer

    ★ 4.29 BLT Score (3.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.38 Goodreads (3.4K)
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  24. 24
    A Discovery of Witches cover

    A Discovery of Witches

    All Souls • Book 1

    by Deborah Harkness

    ★ 4.29 BLT Score (560.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.02 Goodreads (560.2K)
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  25. 25
    The Red Sea cover

    The Red Sea

    The Cycle of Galand • Book 1

    by Edward W. Robertson

    ★ 4.29 BLT Score (3.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.19 Goodreads (3.6K)
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  26. 26
    Wizard's First Rule cover

    Wizard's First Rule

    Sword of Truth • Book 1

    by Terry Goodkind

    ★ 4.29 BLT Score (254.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.12 Goodreads (254.1K)
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  27. 27
    Zealot's Eleventh Crusade cover

    Zealot's Eleventh Crusade

    Divine Apostasy • Book 11

    by A.F. Kay

    ★ 4.29 BLT Score (1.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.55 Goodreads (1.0K)
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  28. 28
    One Dark Window cover

    One Dark Window

    The Shepherd King • Book 1

    by Rachel Gillig

    ★ 4.28 BLT Score (683.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.26 Goodreads (683.8K)
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  29. 29
    Plague of Shadows cover

    Plague of Shadows

    The Aldoran Chronicles • Book 2

    by Michael Wisehart

    ★ 4.27 BLT Score (3.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.38 Goodreads (3.3K)
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  30. 30
    Penric’s Demon cover

    Penric’s Demon

    Penric and Desdemona (Publication order) • Book 1

    by Lois McMaster Bujold

    ★ 4.27 BLT Score (12.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.2 Goodreads (12.8K)
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  31. 31
    The Prisoner of Limnos cover

    The Prisoner of Limnos

    Penric and Desdemona (Publication order) • Book 6

    by Lois McMaster Bujold

    ★ 4.27 BLT Score (5.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.32 Goodreads (5.7K)
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  32. 32
    Long Lost Magic cover

    Long Lost Magic

    Thorne Witches • Book 6

    by T.M. Cromer

    ★ 4.26 BLT Score (2.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.53 Goodreads (2.0K)
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  33. 33
    Assassin's Apprentice cover

    Assassin's Apprentice

    Farseer Trilogy • Book 1

    by Robin Hobb

    ★ 4.25 BLT Score (409.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.19 Goodreads (409.2K)
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  34. 34
    Spring Magic cover

    Spring Magic

    Thorne Witches • Book 4

    by T.M. Cromer

    ★ 4.25 BLT Score (2.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.41 Goodreads (2.7K)
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  35. 35
    Silence cover

    Silence

    Unbound • Book 2

    by Nicoli Gonnella

    ★ 4.25 BLT Score (6.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (6.4K)
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  36. 36
    The Black Book cover

    The Black Book

    The Cycle of the Scour • Book 2

    by Edward W. Robertson

    ★ 4.24 BLT Score (311 ratings)
    ★ 4.41 Goodreads (311)
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  37. 37
    The Dragon in Winter cover

    The Dragon in Winter

    Kagen the Damned • Book 3

    by Jonathan Maberry

    ★ 4.22 BLT Score (758 ratings)
    ★ 4.38 Goodreads (758)
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  38. 38
    The Apocalypse Codex cover

    The Apocalypse Codex

    Laundry Files • Book 4

    by Charles Stross

    ★ 4.21 BLT Score (11.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.18 Goodreads (11.5K)
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  39. 39
    City of Ghosts cover

    City of Ghosts

    Downside Ghosts • Book 3

    by Stacia Kane

    ★ 4.20 BLT Score (9.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (9.4K)
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  40. 40
    Storm Over Camelot cover

    Storm Over Camelot

    Morgan le Fay • Book 3

    by Sophie Keetch

    ★ 4.20 BLT Score (817 ratings)
    ★ 4.17 Goodreads (817)
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  41. 41
    The Mists of Avalon cover

    The Mists of Avalon

    Avalon • Book 1

    by Marion Zimmer Bradley

    ★ 4.20 BLT Score (213.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.13 Goodreads (213.5K)
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  42. 42
    Spell or High Water cover

    Spell or High Water

    Magic 2.0 • Book 2

    by Scott Meyer

    ★ 4.20 BLT Score (24.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.04 Goodreads (24.6K)
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  43. 43
    The Shadow Wand cover

    The Shadow Wand

    The Black Witch Chronicles • Book 3

    by Laurie Forest

    ★ 4.20 BLT Score (22.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.06 Goodreads (22.6K)
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  44. 44
    Black Sun cover

    Black Sun

    Between Earth and Sky • Book 1

    by Rebecca Roanhorse

    ★ 4.19 BLT Score (55.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.17 Goodreads (55.3K)
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  45. 45
    The Once and Future Witches cover

    The Once and Future Witches

    by Alix E. Harrow

    ★ 4.19 BLT Score (108.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.02 Goodreads (108.3K)
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  46. 46
    Babel cover

    Babel

    by R. F. Kuang

    ★ 4.19 BLT Score (491.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.14 Goodreads (491.2K)
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  47. 47
    The Night Circus cover

    The Night Circus

    by Erin Morgenstern

    ★ 4.18 BLT Score (1.1M ratings)
    ★ 4 Goodreads (1.1M)
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  48. 48
    Daughter of the Forest cover

    Daughter of the Forest

    Sevenwaters • Book 1

    by Juliet Marillier

    ★ 4.18 BLT Score (71.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.29 Goodreads (71.7K)
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  49. 49
    Celestial Magic cover

    Celestial Magic

    Thorne Witches • Book 11

    by T.M. Cromer

    ★ 4.16 BLT Score (1.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.6 Goodreads (1.2K)
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  50. 50
    Sacrificial Magic cover

    Sacrificial Magic

    Downside Ghosts • Book 4

    by Stacia Kane

    ★ 4.14 BLT Score (6.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.21 Goodreads (6.8K)
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How We Rank Audiobooks

Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.

Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.

We don't accept paid placements or prioritize new releases. These rankings reflect what listeners actually enjoy, not what's being promoted.

Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.

Read our full ranking methodology →