Vivi from FF9
(Originally posted on July 24, 2013. My thoughts did change a bit on this one. Mostly, I’m better about spells being broken or misfired by a sneeze or distraction. Still not a fan of it happening a lot. It really needs a good plot reason or at least a major consequence. Otherwise, it’s just silly.)
Magic is a big a part of many fantasy books. From Gandalf the Grey of Tolkien to Spellfire of Forgotten Realms, magic is a staple. Sometimes the magic is nothing more than a few mystical creatures and other times it comes in the form of mental manipulation. For example, there is no magic in the Ranger’s Apprentice series. There is mention of mind manipulation, which is the closest they come to it. So it is entirely possible to have a very low magic world to the point where the reader doesn’t even realize magic is there.
Personally, I like reading about magic with wizard duels and combat spells. So much can be done with magic as long as you stick to the rules that you make. That’s one of my pet peeves when it comes to magic. You have to stay within your own rules or given an explanation of why a rule is being broken. For example, I have it that magic in Windemere is the manipulation of auras. To do so, you use gestures, words, and/or ingredients for your spells. Nyx and Trinity don’t need any of that, so a reason is going to be needed. I can’t say that here because it’s a spoiler.
That’s another thing that I look for in a magic system. Details are fine, but I prefer when a magic system isn’t one where a spell can get broken by a sneeze. I’ve read books where a spell is undone because somebody yelled at the wizard. I wonder why anybody would want to learn magic if their concentration is so terrible. Even the big, powerful wizards were undone by a stumble of words. If magic is so dangerous then the people using it really need to have incredible focus and care. The ‘spell went wrong’ isn’t a terrible idea, but seeing it more than once in the same book is ugh worthy.
So, what do people look for in fantasy book magic?
Legends of Windemere 
Interesting, Charles. Magic disrupted by a sneeze or someone shouting? Sounds pretty dangerous to me. I think mages should be exceptional people who have great intelligence and focus. In my Wolves of Vimar series, it can only be used by some people. they have to take the mana into themselves and manipulate it. They do this using words and gestures. anyone who shows they have some capability is taken up by a mage and undergoes an apprenticeship, culminating in a series of tests. (see my last 3 posts on http://aspholessaria.co.uk)
The priests, however, are granted powers through the god sending their power into the priest.
In my Elemental Worlds duo, though, magic is used by imbuing crystals. Once a crystal is imbued with magic, it can be used by most people, talented in magic or not, but only a mage can fill a crystal with magic. Also, it runs out! Different crystals resonate to different forms of magic.
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The disruption of speaks concept dies revolve around focus. With verbal spells, one can assume to a sneeze would force the caster to start over. Making them jump in the middle of gestures should feasibly stop the spell. That’s the way I try to go since concentration can be broken.
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I look for some kind of effort at creating a magic system and also stakes. I’ve seen too many books with magic without limitations. Somehow a character has enormous power that doesn’t cost him or her anything. He or she is able to access it easily without a care. That’s usually my cue to duck out of a story.
I read a book trilogy where a character knew that if she cast a spell to defeat an enemy, it would take her life. Magic had a high cost in that world. But this was a price she was willing to pay because of the great danger to the world. I read that trilogy several times, because the magic system is so good. I wish I could tell you the name of the series. But I can’t now because what I wrote is a spoiler.
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I lean towards nearly limitless magic, but I figure everyone having that counters things. Backlashes and fatigue exist too. Maybe the bigger the power, the worse the rebound.
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You’ve shown Nyx needing to rest, so I took that to mean that her body at least has limits.
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I struggle with this one. How to keep it mystical and amazing, but allow readers some understanding is a balancing act.
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I think readers will always be in a position to learn about magic systems. Most know it’s fictional, so they will be open to explanations. Should help with a foundation while keeping things amazing.
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As you say, there has to be consistency in how magic is done. And ideally there is thought to who is allowed it (if anyone; often magic is a secret punishable by death) and what it takes to do it. Materials, time, expertise, what have you. All of these factors can create unique obstacles in a story. For instance, if the spell requires fresh pollen from a plant that only blooms on the night of the full moon, you would have to wait for the full moon in order to gather that component.
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I always wondered why fantasy stuck with magic is rare when it’s not Earth. I know it makes it more special, but it would be like computers only being held by a handful of people in our world. Maybe this is because I never really read any stories where magic was illegal. It was an aspect of the world that few could manipulate.
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It may have to do with the history of witch hunts in the real world, authors assuming that mages will be hated and would try to hide their skills. Back in the 90s this was all the thing, trust me.
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I remember the 90’s with those stories. They still struck me as odd at times. Almost like they were stretching the hatred or not really explaining it. We were simply supposed to accept it.
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