Wyrd & Wonder: Top 5 Magic Casters

During this month long celebration of the fantastical, Wyrd and Wonder has posed the question of “Who are your favorite magic users?”. There are so many books with cool magic systems and even cooler magic users, but often those characters come to mind as something else first, whether that be a warrior, a thief, or fae. My top five featured here are those that come to mind as magic users first and foremost.

1. Peter Grant – Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch
   1. A magical cop in modern day London with a keen sense of humor.
   2. He has a wonderfully scientific approach to magic and he’s very persistent.
2. Galadriel “El” Higgins – A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
   1. She was prophesied to be a dark wizard by a relative and has since spent every moment trying very hard to not become a world destroying evil.
   2. She’s immensely powerful and prickly, but she’s actually quite desperate for friends and once she has them, she’s fiercely loyal.
3. Finlay Ashowan – The House Witch by Delemhach
   1. Finlay is a house witch, meaning his powers are those of hearth and home.
   2. He’s a mad good cook, provides a feeling of safety and good feelings and can literally blast people out of his domain if they bother him.
4. Stratus – Infernal by Mark de Jager
   1. He turns into a dragon and roasts people. What’s not to love?
   2. I spent most of the book trying to figure out *what* exactly he actually was besides someone who like to eat people.
5. The Lady – The Black Company by Glen Cook
   1. She starts out as a powerful, villainous sorceress and eventually joins the Black Company and marries Croaker. What a redemption arc!
   2. It’s been years since I’ve read this series, but I remember thinking she just seemed really badass.