7 contemporary novels on magic and monsters for fantasy-fiction lovers

​Traversing the magical imaginary world full of supernatural elements such as magic, mythical creatures, and fantastical settings sounds like a perfect escape plan from the real world for fantasy fiction lovers. If you are a fan of the 'Lord of the Rings' or 'Harry Potter' series, then here we list down some such books on magic and monsters:
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​‘Certain Dark Things’ is a novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, published in 2016. The novel is set in Mexico City where vampires exist and are divided into different bloodlines, each with their own unique abilities and customs. The novel explores themes of power, identity, and the struggle for survival in a world where supernatural creatures exist alongside humans.

​‘Dead Witch Walking’ is the first novel in the 'Hollows' series by Kim Harrison. It was published in 2004 and is set in an alternate version of Cincinnati, Ohio, where supernatural creatures coexist with humans. Blended with magic, action, and humor, the novel explores themes of power, identity, and loyalty.

​‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ is a five-book series by Rick Riordan. The series follows the adventures of Percy Jackson, a demigod who is the son of Poseidon, the Greek God of the sea. Percy discovers his true identity at the age of 12, when he is sent to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods like him.

​‘Not Even Bones’ is a young adult horror novel written by Rebecca Schaeffer. The story follows the protagonist, Nita, a teenage girl who has grown up in a family of monster hunters. Nita possesses a unique ability to identify and dissect supernatural creatures, which her mother then sells on the black market.

​Set in a fictional world inspired by Japanese mythology, ‘Empress Of All Seasons’ by Emiko Jean tells the tale of the main character Mari, who is a yōkai (a supernatural creature from Japanese folklore). Mari is determined to win the competition to become the Empress of Honoku, a kingdom where humans and yōkai live together.

​‘The Darkest Minds’ is a young adult dystopian novel written by Alexandra Bracken. The book is set in a world where a virus has killed most of America's children and teenagers, and those who have survived have developed psychic abilities. The government, fearing the powers of the survivors, has placed them in internment camps. The story follows a 16-year-old girl named Ruby Daly, who has managed to escape from one of these camps.

​‘A Darker Shade of Magic’ is set in a world where there are four parallel versions of London, each with its own level of magic: Grey London, Red London, White London, and Black London. The story follows Kell, a rare magician who can travel between the different Londons.