As a “geriatric millenial,” as I’ve heard my age described, I discovered Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone my freshman year of high school. (Book 3 had just come out).

I’ve loved fantasy ever since . . . Lord of the Rings, King Arthur, dragons, sorcerers, spells and curses . . .

I am a SUCKER for just about any well-written story about people with magical abilities.

What makes magic so interesting in a story, though?

• IT’S VERSATILE. There are hard and soft magic systems. Characters can be born with magic or acquire it. The possibilities are limitless.
• IT IS CREATIVE IN A UNIQUE WAY. Introducing magic into a story allows for unique and interesting ways to plot a story and solve problems.
• IT BRINGS OUT WHAT IS TRULY HUMAN IN A CHARACTER. The ability to use magic really brings to the surface all that is human and relatable in a character, oddly enough–the good and the bad. The ability to work good and evil are both enhanced. The reality of the good and evil in us has a spotlight thrown upon it.
• MORAL DILEMMAS. To quote one Ian Malcolm (sort of)… “you sorcerers were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn’t stop to think if they should.” The moral implications behind using magic, or not, can make for fascinating read and great character development… a fabulous way to show (rather than tell) who a character is the magic they choose to use, or to avoid.

Do you read fantasy? What do you like about it? What is your favorite magic system that you’ve encountered in book or film?

Comment below!

You can also check out an excerpt from my upcoming release The Crimson League: The Fight for Hope. How would you react if you heard a sorcerer-nobleman had slain the royal family and taken over the realm?

You can also check out my latest posts:

• Doing the grunt work feels thankless . . . but it’s actually magical
• What the pícaro?
• A look into an author’s mind a week before launch day
• What the graveyard scene in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” taught me about high stakes action scenes
• Character Spotlight: Zalski Forzythe, because everyone loves a good villain