rain rambles about fantasy, cont.

When I think of traditionally published fantasy books these days, I realize that a lot of them are able to generate buzz based on some Very Cool magic system.

Not all of them, obviously; Game of Thrones is one of the best-known examples of a highly successful low fantasy.

But a lot of the fantasy books are like this. I guess a unique magic system helps distinguish a fantasy novel from the other chosen one/vengeance/political intrigue for the throne stories out there.

Some examples from books I've read/head of:

- The Poppy War by RF Kuang: magic comes from shamans who communicate with gods

- The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart: "bone shard magic" using people's life forces to power animal constructs

- Descendant of the Crane by Joan He: soothsayers who can see into the future and sometimes use magic based on that power

- Steel Crow Saga by Paul Krueger: shadepacting (turning animals into a powerful familiar) & metalpacting (ferrokinesis)

- Jade City by Fonda Lee: gaining magical powers from jade

etc.

Conclusion? I guess, if I want to write a fantasy story, I'll have to come up with a cool idea for a magic system first.