Books with Curses or Enchantments

​If you like books about people turned into animals, or spells that influence behavior, or cursed creatures or other hexes, read on! We’ve compiled an un-frog-gettable list this week of books involving curses and enchantments. You’ll wolf them down and ask were you can find more!

​1. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones: Cursed by a witch, Sophie seeks out the traveling castle of the infamous Wizard Howl. She discovers there’s more to him—and herself—than meets the eye. Sophie must confront the witch to save not only herself but Howl too. (We also love the movie!)

2. Stardust by Neil Gaiman: Tristan crosses a wall into a magical country in order to catch a falling star and bring it back to the girl he loves. But he’s not the only one after the star, and dangerous enemies will do anything to get it. (Ditto about the movie!)

3. The Riddle-Master trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip: Morgon of Hed, a young prince with a mysterious star-shaped birthmark and the ability to solve complex riddles, embarks on a perilous journey across kingdoms and faces ancient powers to discover his true identity and destiny in a world full of magic, shape-shifters, and ancient lore.

4. Bryony and Roses by T. Kingfisher: Caught in a snowstorm, Bryony takes refuge in a mysterious manor full of dark enchantments. Is the Beast who lives there her captor or fellow prisoner? She must untangle the house’s secrets before it destroys both of them.

5. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh: Mina sacrifices herself to the Sea God in place of the woman her brother loves. In the Spirit Realm, she encounters mythical beings, faces trials, and attempts to break a curse that has plagued her people with storms.

6. A Spell for Chameleon (Xanth #1) by Piers Anthony: Bink, a young man in the magical land of Xanth, faces banishment due to his lack of visible magical abilities, setting him on a journey filled with dangerous creatures, powerful spells, and strange allies.

7. Fool Moon (Dresden Files #2) by Jim Butcher: Wizard-detective Harry Dresden is pulled into a dark and complex investigation involving multiple types of werewolves after a string of brutal murders occurs under the full moon in Chicago.

8. A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers #1) by Brigid Kemmerer: Harper is magically abducted from Washington, D.C., to Emberfall, a kingdom in peril whose prince is under a curse. A vindictive sorceress is determined to stop Harper from breaking it.

9. East by Edith Pattou: Rose accepts an offer from a huge white bear to live with him in his castle in exchange for her family’s health and prosperity. But after she makes a devastating mistake, she must go on a dangerous quest to fix what she broke. Based on “East of the Sun, West of the Moon.”

10. The Fruits Basket manga series by Natsuki Takaya: Tohru Honda, a kind-hearted orphan, becomes entwined with the Chinese-zodiac-cursed Sohma family. As she uncovers the pain and trauma behind their curse, she seeks to break it by offering empathy and love, helping the family confront their struggles and heal. (See also the 2019 anime series...IMO, better than the 2001 series.)

11. Hunter’s Moon by Sarah M. Awa: A camping trip gone terribly wrong plunges college student Melanie into a painful new life—one in which she must keep secrets from even her closest friends. She finds an ally in the mysterious Gavin, and they start to develop romantic feelings; but bullies, stalkers, and a secret Organization complicate their lives as well as their relationship.


What’s your favorite book involving a curse or enchantment? Tell us in the comments!

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P.S. – ​If you loved these book recommendations, why not sign up for our newsletter? Twice a month, we’ll send you a themed list of fantasy and/or sci-fi book recommendations, and sometimes music or movies too. (Not to mention jokes, games, puzzles, memes, and the occasional recipe!)

P.P.S. – See also our previous recommendation list, fangtastic vampire and werewolf books!

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