5 Urban Fantasy Books with Original Magic Systems and Dazzling Worldbuilding

Ashira Cohen never expected her PI gig to get her tangled up in shadowy conspiracies and ancient magic tied to Jewish legend. But when a hidden ward on her scalp shatters, she unlocks rare blood magic—and lands on the radar of her long-time nemesis. Set in Vancouver and packed with savvy problem-solving, dazzling worldbuilding, and a knockout original magic system, this fast-paced series blends brainy sleuthing, fierce found family, and wit that slays.

When a centuries-old order of magical knights must defend their hidden realm from trouble brewing in the ordinary world, they turn to a rookie with plenty to prove. Annabel Chase launches readers into a world where magic is governed not just by power, but by law, loyalty, and the unpredictable consequences of modern life—and where the earth exists in volcanic ash midnight.

In the bustling city of Janloon, jade grants those with the right ancestry superhuman abilities—and power, politics, and family loyalty mean everything. Fonda Lee’s award-winning series combines gritty urban atmosphere with an East Asian-inspired magic system where combat, commerce, and tradition entwine. Complex, cinematic, and utterly original, Jade City redefines what urban fantasy can be.

Jessamyn Teoh thought moving back to Malaysia would be her biggest adjustment—until she starts hearing the voice of her dead grandmother, a powerful medium, in her head. Swept into a world of vengeful gods, dangerous spirits, and supernatural bargains, Jess must navigate family secrets and cultural expectations while contending with a magic deeply rooted in Southeast Asian tradition. An inventive, luminous standalone with humor, heart, and worldbuilding that feels lived-in and new.

Irene Winters is a professional spy for the mysterious Invisible Library, collecting rare works of fiction from alternate realities. Sent to a steampunk London crawling with supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic, she must use her wits—and the Library’s reality-bending Language—to outsmart rival agents, dragons, and fae. Cogman’s world is a joyride of inventive systems, shifting rules, and bibliophile adventure, perfect for anyone who loves their urban fantasy clever and genre-bending.