Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi
Staff-created list
The series is packed with adventure and mystery; with quotes that inspire us and make us laugh; and a magical world where good can triumph over evil. If you've gobbled up the books, here's a list that might fill that Hogwarts-sized hole in your heart. Starting with Junior Fiction and going all the way up to Adult Fiction, hopefully you'll find the right book for you! A Christchurch City Libraries list.
Story and illustrations come together to take you on a fun and light-hearted adventure. When the young Wizard Xar attempts to catch a witch to steal its m...Show more
Story and illustrations come together to take you on a fun and light-hearted adventure. When the young Wizard Xar attempts to catch a witch to steal its magic, he captures a Warrior girl called Wish instead. Two outcasts must work together to defeat the witches they thought had long been extinct. Also available as a downloadable audiobook.
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Story and illustrations come together to take you on a fun and light-hearted adventure. When the young Wizard Xar attempts to catch a witch to steal its m...Show more
Story and illustrations come together to take you on a fun and light-hearted adventure. When the young Wizard Xar attempts to catch a witch to steal its magic, he captures a Warrior girl called Wish instead. Two outcasts must work together to defeat the witches they thought had long been extinct. Also available as a downloadable audiobook.
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An exciting adventure filled with quirky characters and dangerous trials, all set in a charming magical city. Morrigan Crow is cursed with misfortune, and...Show more
An exciting adventure filled with quirky characters and dangerous trials, all set in a charming magical city. Morrigan Crow is cursed with misfortune, and blamed for all tragedy that falls upon her village. But her fate is altered when she's invited to compete against hundreds of children to get a place in the Wundrous Society. Also available as a downloadable audiobook.
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An exciting adventure filled with quirky characters and dangerous trials, all set in a charming magical city. Morrigan Crow is cursed with misfortune, and...Show more
An exciting adventure filled with quirky characters and dangerous trials, all set in a charming magical city. Morrigan Crow is cursed with misfortune, and blamed for all tragedy that falls upon her village. But her fate is altered when she's invited to compete against hundreds of children to get a place in the Wundrous Society. Also available as a downloadable audiobook.
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Callum has never wanted to be a magician. Magic is dangerous so Call tries to fail the school entrance test – but his attempt fails and he’s thrust into ...Show more
Callum has never wanted to be a magician. Magic is dangerous so Call tries to fail the school entrance test – but his attempt fails and he’s thrust into a world of danger and mystery at the Magisterium. Will he make it out of the Magisterium in one piece? Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook.
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Callum has never wanted to be a magician. Magic is dangerous so Call tries to fail the school entrance test – but his attempt fails and he’s thrust into ...Show more
Callum has never wanted to be a magician. Magic is dangerous so Call tries to fail the school entrance test – but his attempt fails and he’s thrust into a world of danger and mystery at the Magisterium. Will he make it out of the Magisterium in one piece? Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook.
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The 'His Dark Materials' series is a classic fantasy story, blending magic, mythical creatures, and an adventure of self-discovery. The spirited Lyra and ...Show more
The 'His Dark Materials' series is a classic fantasy story, blending magic, mythical creatures, and an adventure of self-discovery. The spirited Lyra and her daemon, Pantalaimon, must journey to the Arctic in search of her abducted friend and other taken children, before they become victims of horrendous experiments. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook (under the title 'Northern Lights').
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The 'His Dark Materials' series is a classic fantasy story, blending magic, mythical creatures, and an adventure of self-discovery. The spirited Lyra and ...Show more
The 'His Dark Materials' series is a classic fantasy story, blending magic, mythical creatures, and an adventure of self-discovery. The spirited Lyra and her daemon, Pantalaimon, must journey to the Arctic in search of her abducted friend and other taken children, before they become victims of horrendous experiments. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook (under the title 'Northern Lights').
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This iconic fantasy series brings together the best elements of traditional fantasy stories. When the blue stone Eragon finds in the forest hatches into a...Show more
This iconic fantasy series brings together the best elements of traditional fantasy stories. When the blue stone Eragon finds in the forest hatches into a dragon, he finds himself on a journey across the Empire to discover the legacy of the Dragon Riders and defend the world from evil. The brilliant world-building of Alagaesia brings you dragons, elves, sword fights, and dark secrets. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook
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This iconic fantasy series brings together the best elements of traditional fantasy stories. When the blue stone Eragon finds in the forest hatches into a...Show more
This iconic fantasy series brings together the best elements of traditional fantasy stories. When the blue stone Eragon finds in the forest hatches into a dragon, he finds himself on a journey across the Empire to discover the legacy of the Dragon Riders and defend the world from evil. The brilliant world-building of Alagaesia brings you dragons, elves, sword fights, and dark secrets. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook
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The Abhorsen series is fantasy with a splash of horror. Sabriel is about to finish boarding school when she learns her father, the Abhorsen, has gone miss...Show more
The Abhorsen series is fantasy with a splash of horror. Sabriel is about to finish boarding school when she learns her father, the Abhorsen, has gone missing. Her father is a necromancer who protects the living from the dead. Sabriel must leave Ancelstierre and venture into the land of the dead, to rescue her father. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook.
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The Abhorsen series is fantasy with a splash of horror. Sabriel is about to finish boarding school when she learns her father, the Abhorsen, has gone miss...Show more
The Abhorsen series is fantasy with a splash of horror. Sabriel is about to finish boarding school when she learns her father, the Abhorsen, has gone missing. Her father is a necromancer who protects the living from the dead. Sabriel must leave Ancelstierre and venture into the land of the dead, to rescue her father. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook.
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Step into a story rich with world-building and political intrigue. Long ago, the world was shattered into floating celestial islands known as Arks. Each A...Show more
Step into a story rich with world-building and political intrigue. Long ago, the world was shattered into floating celestial islands known as Arks. Each Ark has developed in different, unusual ways. Ophelia lives a quiet life on Anima, where objects have souls. She possesses the gift to touch objects and learn about the people who used them. Ophelia is pulled into a political plot when she’s forced to leave her Ark to marry a man from a powerful family. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook.
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Step into a story rich with world-building and political intrigue. Long ago, the world was shattered into floating celestial islands known as Arks. Each A...Show more
Step into a story rich with world-building and political intrigue. Long ago, the world was shattered into floating celestial islands known as Arks. Each Ark has developed in different, unusual ways. Ophelia lives a quiet life on Anima, where objects have souls. She possesses the gift to touch objects and learn about the people who used them. Ophelia is pulled into a political plot when she’s forced to leave her Ark to marry a man from a powerful family. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook.
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Brienna has spent her adolescent years in a special boarding school, trying to attain mastery in one of the arts, and showing little promise. As her time ...Show more
Brienna has spent her adolescent years in a special boarding school, trying to attain mastery in one of the arts, and showing little promise. As her time in Magnalia House draws to a close, her true adventure is only beginning, as she is pulled into a world of intrigue, plots and deception. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook.
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Brienna has spent her adolescent years in a special boarding school, trying to attain mastery in one of the arts, and showing little promise. As her time ...Show more
Brienna has spent her adolescent years in a special boarding school, trying to attain mastery in one of the arts, and showing little promise. As her time in Magnalia House draws to a close, her true adventure is only beginning, as she is pulled into a world of intrigue, plots and deception. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook.
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Russian folklore inspires this series where magic and military, good and evil vie for power. When Alina Starkov’s regiment and her best friend, Mal, are a...Show more
Russian folklore inspires this series where magic and military, good and evil vie for power. When Alina Starkov’s regiment and her best friend, Mal, are attacked on the Fold she reveals a dormant power that saves his life. Inside Alina lurks the power to finally bring war-ravaged Ravka back to glory and she’s whisked away to train with the Grisha, the magical elite. A descriptive tale that will have you feeling as though you are part of the action.
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Russian folklore inspires this series where magic and military, good and evil vie for power. When Alina Starkov’s regiment and her best friend, Mal, are a...Show more
Russian folklore inspires this series where magic and military, good and evil vie for power. When Alina Starkov’s regiment and her best friend, Mal, are attacked on the Fold she reveals a dormant power that saves his life. Inside Alina lurks the power to finally bring war-ravaged Ravka back to glory and she’s whisked away to train with the Grisha, the magical elite. A descriptive tale that will have you feeling as though you are part of the action.
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An old journal is the only memory Olivia has on her mother, having been abandoned as an infant at Merilance school for girls. But when an invitation comes...Show more
An old journal is the only memory Olivia has on her mother, having been abandoned as an infant at Merilance school for girls. But when an invitation comes to travel to her family's mysterious estate, will she descend into madness like her predecessors? A chilling tale with 'Stranger Things' vibes as lines between worlds blur. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook.
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An old journal is the only memory Olivia has on her mother, having been abandoned as an infant at Merilance school for girls. But when an invitation comes...Show more
An old journal is the only memory Olivia has on her mother, having been abandoned as an infant at Merilance school for girls. But when an invitation comes to travel to her family's mysterious estate, will she descend into madness like her predecessors? A chilling tale with 'Stranger Things' vibes as lines between worlds blur. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook.
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Grace feels like she doesn’t belong in the academy he calls home. Full of monsters, she is only a mere mortal. What is so special about her that makes eve...Show more
Grace feels like she doesn’t belong in the academy he calls home. Full of monsters, she is only a mere mortal. What is so special about her that makes everyone take an interest? The first book by Tracy Wolff in a series of paranormal romances based the blends 'Twilight' and 'Harry Potter'.
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Grace feels like she doesn’t belong in the academy he calls home. Full of monsters, she is only a mere mortal. What is so special about her that makes eve...Show more
Grace feels like she doesn’t belong in the academy he calls home. Full of monsters, she is only a mere mortal. What is so special about her that makes everyone take an interest? The first book by Tracy Wolff in a series of paranormal romances based the blends 'Twilight' and 'Harry Potter'.
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Emry, the daughter of the great wizard Merlin, is trying to establish her own place within Camelot. Switching places with her brother to get his spot as c...Show more
Emry, the daughter of the great wizard Merlin, is trying to establish her own place within Camelot. Switching places with her brother to get his spot as court wizard comes with catastrophic consequences. This fun retelling of the Arthurian legendary comes with LGBTQIA+ representation and rom-com laughs.
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Emry, the daughter of the great wizard Merlin, is trying to establish her own place within Camelot. Switching places with her brother to get his spot as c...Show more
Emry, the daughter of the great wizard Merlin, is trying to establish her own place within Camelot. Switching places with her brother to get his spot as court wizard comes with catastrophic consequences. This fun retelling of the Arthurian legendary comes with LGBTQIA+ representation and rom-com laughs.
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This Urban Fantasy celebrates Latinx folklore and the transformative power on art. Sierra Santiago was excited to spend summer vacation with her friends b...Show more
This Urban Fantasy celebrates Latinx folklore and the transformative power on art. Sierra Santiago was excited to spend summer vacation with her friends but now must learn to harness her magic and protect her family and community from a man looking to twist and manipulate the magic of the Shadowshapers.
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This Urban Fantasy celebrates Latinx folklore and the transformative power on art. Sierra Santiago was excited to spend summer vacation with her friends b...Show more
This Urban Fantasy celebrates Latinx folklore and the transformative power on art. Sierra Santiago was excited to spend summer vacation with her friends but now must learn to harness her magic and protect her family and community from a man looking to twist and manipulate the magic of the Shadowshapers.
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A rich and fresh fantasy set in Nigeria. 12-year old Sunny has recently moved from the U.S to her parents’ homeland. Being albino, she stands out and is s...Show more
A rich and fresh fantasy set in Nigeria. 12-year old Sunny has recently moved from the U.S to her parents’ homeland. Being albino, she stands out and is struggling to untangle her family’s complicated past and their reason for returning to Nigeria. When she meets Orlu and Chichi, Sunny learns she’s one of the Leopard People and begins mastering her magic with her new friends.
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A rich and fresh fantasy set in Nigeria. 12-year old Sunny has recently moved from the U.S to her parents’ homeland. Being albino, she stands out and is s...Show more
A rich and fresh fantasy set in Nigeria. 12-year old Sunny has recently moved from the U.S to her parents’ homeland. Being albino, she stands out and is struggling to untangle her family’s complicated past and their reason for returning to Nigeria. When she meets Orlu and Chichi, Sunny learns she’s one of the Leopard People and begins mastering her magic with her new friends.
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Embark on a journey of whimsical adventure following Arram Draper, a powerful mage who is sent to reign in his magic at the Imperial University of Carthak...Show more
Embark on a journey of whimsical adventure following Arram Draper, a powerful mage who is sent to reign in his magic at the Imperial University of Carthak. Before the mage became the most trusted ally of Tortall, he was a boy torn between friendship and love. A fast paced prequel to the classic 'Song of the Lioness' novels, written in the iconic world-building Tamora Pierce style.
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Embark on a journey of whimsical adventure following Arram Draper, a powerful mage who is sent to reign in his magic at the Imperial University of Carthak...Show more
Embark on a journey of whimsical adventure following Arram Draper, a powerful mage who is sent to reign in his magic at the Imperial University of Carthak. Before the mage became the most trusted ally of Tortall, he was a boy torn between friendship and love. A fast paced prequel to the classic 'Song of the Lioness' novels, written in the iconic world-building Tamora Pierce style.
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Peter Grant is a young cop recently transferred to a new unit that police the magical occurrences in London. His mentor is old fashioned and mysterious, h...Show more
Peter Grant is a young cop recently transferred to a new unit that police the magical occurrences in London. His mentor is old fashioned and mysterious, his job description is a complete mystery, and his eyes become opened to the real powers of the capital. A great series that is not too grim, very funny, and follows a central character through an uncertain and unusual period of growth. If you like Terry Pratchett or Neil Gaiman then get on this series, you'll love it! Also available as a downloadable audiobook.
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Peter Grant is a young cop recently transferred to a new unit that police the magical occurrences in London. His mentor is old fashioned and mysterious, h...Show more
Peter Grant is a young cop recently transferred to a new unit that police the magical occurrences in London. His mentor is old fashioned and mysterious, his job description is a complete mystery, and his eyes become opened to the real powers of the capital. A great series that is not too grim, very funny, and follows a central character through an uncertain and unusual period of growth. If you like Terry Pratchett or Neil Gaiman then get on this series, you'll love it! Also available as a downloadable audiobook.
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A reminder of what life might really be like as a worker at the Ministry of Magic. Linus Baker is a case worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical You...Show more
A reminder of what life might really be like as a worker at the Ministry of Magic. Linus Baker is a case worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth and perhaps not a very good one. This engaging and witty story is filled with all the adventure expected from the world of magic but with a good splash of heart-warming cosiness. Also available as an eBook.
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A reminder of what life might really be like as a worker at the Ministry of Magic. Linus Baker is a case worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical You...Show more
A reminder of what life might really be like as a worker at the Ministry of Magic. Linus Baker is a case worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth and perhaps not a very good one. This engaging and witty story is filled with all the adventure expected from the world of magic but with a good splash of heart-warming cosiness. Also available as an eBook.
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An atmospheric tale with a likeable character who must form unlikely alliances to defeat evil magic enclosed within a library. From the author who brought...Show more
An atmospheric tale with a likeable character who must form unlikely alliances to defeat evil magic enclosed within a library. From the author who brought us 'The Book Jumper', another tale about magical books that will make you nostalgic for 'Inkheart'. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook.
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An atmospheric tale with a likeable character who must form unlikely alliances to defeat evil magic enclosed within a library. From the author who brought...Show more
An atmospheric tale with a likeable character who must form unlikely alliances to defeat evil magic enclosed within a library. From the author who brought us 'The Book Jumper', another tale about magical books that will make you nostalgic for 'Inkheart'. Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook.
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This paranormal romance blends science, historical, and fantasy themes to create a well-paced adventure. Fear has overcome Diana's ability to tap into her...Show more
This paranormal romance blends science, historical, and fantasy themes to create a well-paced adventure. Fear has overcome Diana's ability to tap into her magic. While studying at the Oxford Bodleian library that she encounters a lost, bewitched manuscript. Her discovery stirs up the supernatural underworld and puts her in the path of vampire scientist, Matthew.
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This paranormal romance blends science, historical, and fantasy themes to create a well-paced adventure. Fear has overcome Diana's ability to tap into her...Show more
This paranormal romance blends science, historical, and fantasy themes to create a well-paced adventure. Fear has overcome Diana's ability to tap into her magic. While studying at the Oxford Bodleian library that she encounters a lost, bewitched manuscript. Her discovery stirs up the supernatural underworld and puts her in the path of vampire scientist, Matthew.
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What would life be like if humans, as flawed as we are, could do magic? Quentin Coldwater is in his final year at high school but still obsessed with the ...Show more
What would life be like if humans, as flawed as we are, could do magic? Quentin Coldwater is in his final year at high school but still obsessed with the fantasy novels he read as a child. What comes as a shock to him, is that the world he dreamed about has burst from the pages to become reality. Being invited to study magic at an exclusive college is all he has ever wished for, but will it bring him the happiness he desperately wants? Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook
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What would life be like if humans, as flawed as we are, could do magic? Quentin Coldwater is in his final year at high school but still obsessed with the ...Show more
What would life be like if humans, as flawed as we are, could do magic? Quentin Coldwater is in his final year at high school but still obsessed with the fantasy novels he read as a child. What comes as a shock to him, is that the world he dreamed about has burst from the pages to become reality. Being invited to study magic at an exclusive college is all he has ever wished for, but will it bring him the happiness he desperately wants? Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook
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This whimsical first instalment of ‘The Kingkiller Chronicles’ tells the story of Kvothe as he grows from a young orphan boy into the most notorious wizar...Show more
This whimsical first instalment of ‘The Kingkiller Chronicles’ tells the story of Kvothe as he grows from a young orphan boy into the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen. After his family are killed he embarks on a journey to learn about the Chandrian, demons of legend he believes were responsible. Starring solid world building, fantastic characterisation and an intellectual style magic system.
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This whimsical first instalment of ‘The Kingkiller Chronicles’ tells the story of Kvothe as he grows from a young orphan boy into the most notorious wizar...Show more
This whimsical first instalment of ‘The Kingkiller Chronicles’ tells the story of Kvothe as he grows from a young orphan boy into the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen. After his family are killed he embarks on a journey to learn about the Chandrian, demons of legend he believes were responsible. Starring solid world building, fantastic characterisation and an intellectual style magic system.
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Leigh Bardugo dramatically turns away from the fare of her YA novels in this dark and gritty fantasy set at present-day Yale. Alex Stern is a girl running...Show more
Leigh Bardugo dramatically turns away from the fare of her YA novels in this dark and gritty fantasy set at present-day Yale. Alex Stern is a girl running from her trauma. In the throws of a drug addiction, she is offered a second chance – to join the House of Lethe and monitor the occult activities of the eight secret societies at Yale. Her ability to see ghosts, a curse she’s concealed her whole life, makes her valuable to the mysterious powers at be.
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Leigh Bardugo dramatically turns away from the fare of her YA novels in this dark and gritty fantasy set at present-day Yale. Alex Stern is a girl running...Show more
Leigh Bardugo dramatically turns away from the fare of her YA novels in this dark and gritty fantasy set at present-day Yale. Alex Stern is a girl running from her trauma. In the throws of a drug addiction, she is offered a second chance – to join the House of Lethe and monitor the occult activities of the eight secret societies at Yale. Her ability to see ghosts, a curse she’s concealed her whole life, makes her valuable to the mysterious powers at be.
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