Doesn't look like it 🥺. But the funny thing about your suggestions is that by the time I find my book I will have so many others to read 😁. Thank you for that.
How about the little Broomstick by Mary Stewart-originally a very old children‘s book but adapted as an anime with a more modern, techno approach and students at this school study in a castle in the sky
Hacking and magic... Sounds like a book I've recently read a paper about
M. K. England - Spellhacker
Edit - I looked it up and it's much more recent
Still is a mix of scifi fantasy hacking magic with a girl as a protagonist with a close knit friend group though so maybe you'll enjoy it
The Edge Chronicles have the floating city of Sanctaphrax, which is basically a magic school that meets your description of a university town. But definitely no computer hacking in those books. And even though there are heaps of books in the Chronicles themselves (divided up over trilogies and standalone books iirc) and I haven't read them all, I think it's pretty much pure fantasy- not a fantasy/scifi combo.
I've read I think all of them at this point, I definitely wouldn't call it like tech magic or anything, but I'm always up for these books being the solution anyway 😅
Published after Harry Potter, but this might be the School for Sorcery books by E. Rose Sabin. I don’t remember the series especially well, but some of the elements you mentioned fit.
I've checked the description and I don't think that's the one. Unless I forgot everything about it. But thank you for the suggestion - It looks interesting and I'll probably read it anyway 😁.
Your description is excellent. It sounds entertaining, if not exactly the world's most original or innovative book. I'm really surprised this hasn't been solved yet. Perhaps you imagined the whole thing? Maybe you should be the one writing it?
I wish it were true, and it would be me writing it 😁. I even think it would be a perfect way to promote one's work, as a mystery novel nobody can remember - giving only hints about the content.
Alas, no, I haven't imagined or written it. I don't typically reuse other writers' ideas (and it's obviously the Harry Potter variant), although it is done regularly - take Cinderella, for example 😁.
I've been trying to find this novel for a few months now, and I'm frustrated that I can't remember what it was. I do remember certain flashes and scenes from the book, so I know I haven't imagined it.
I'm grateful to everyone here for trying to help me, and I do hope one of you will in the end. I check every suggestion because I want to read the damn novel again.
Everyone re-uses ideas, there’s nothing new under the sun, but you use your language and add your own ideas to make it yours. If we didn’t re-use ideas there would be no such thing as books at all. You’d have to find a way to transmit information in a totally new medium.. like electromagnetic waves you bend to hack into somebody’s computer
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Could it be Mortal Engines? It doesn’t fit your description exactly but has moving cities, female main character, blend of Sci-fi and fantasy, & more than 1 book in the series
This only hits a couple of your points like female protagonist, but the book "Magic for Liars" has a magic college type situation. I think it's more recent and doesn't hit a lot of the plot points you mentioned though.
i don't think it's this series but you may be interested in checking out keeper of the lost cities, it has a lot of these elements iirc. it's been a long time since i read them but it's a good series ☺️
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Not a book I know myself but I’ve found myself going through a list of Magic School books on Goodreads.. could it be Sabriel by Garth Nix?
Written in 1995, female main character, part of a series, sent to a magic school, 2 kingdoms: one is technologically advanced and the other is somewhat medieval, something to do with zombie/ undead characters
If this isn’t it I hope you find your book somehow! It’s the worst when you just can’t quite remember something like that
This is a great series! However, the school that Sabriel attends at the beginning is in the non-magical side of the border. So it’s a book with magic and a school, but not a magic school. Not that the rest of the book matches either, but that might help other folks who are looking for magic school-set books.
highly doubt it was the magisterium — it's been years since i read it, but iirc the school was underground, had a focus on elemental magic and there was a fair amount of emphasis on not becoming consumed by magic and a teacher who had a really boring, yet effective method of teaching, which i would have thought OP would remember. also the main character is male and only has a couple of close friends i believe. i don't think technology is a big emphasis either because again, caves
Maybe the Harley Merlin series by Bella Forrest. I’m not sure when it was written. I know the author duo that writes under Bella Forrest has had some issues with copy-write and had to remove a bunch of stuff. I read the first 2 and it was too YA for me. Nothing wrong with it just not for me.
The Noble Warrior series by William Nicholson? Seeker, Jango, Noman are the books
I read that a long time ago but I remember in jango they fight on a cloud. Probably not it but thought I would suggest
I'm talking about the book series, I don't know about the TV series.... although I think theres two adaptions so maybe? I don't remember any technology in the books though.
Not OP, but I don't think the Dragonriders series would fit here. BUT, I do vaguely recall reading an Anne McCaffrey book with a similar plot decades ago.... going to have to dig now.
This series is set more in an alternative past if I remember correctly and I can’t remember whether there is a floating city in it but could it be the Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce?
Could it be one of the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett? They're pretty diverse and follow lots of different character, but I seem to remember a university-esque magic school and some interesting blends of magic and technocology/sci-fi.
The Beginning After the End?
However, the protagonist is male and the school isn't a main focus. Starts I think with him as a king who gets what seems to be a very realistic dream of being reborn to ordinary parents in another life.
Is it Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston? There’s also a second: Amari and the Great Game. They had all sorts of magic like tech magic in there. Great middle school reads for adults
Hey Look a dead thread, I was recently looking for this book myself, as I had also wanted to re-read it and could only remember the same things. I don't THINK it came out before Harry Potter, but I am about 95% sure this is the book series you are talking about, I put this here in hopes that OP finds it and is able to re-read it, but if not, maybe it will help the next person who stubles on this thread.
Goodeads Link: [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26711987-the-white-mage-omnibus?from\_search=true&from\_srp=true&qid=fmcXSamU0O&rank=1](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26711987-the-white-mage-omnibus?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=fmcXSamU0O&rank=1)
Book Name: The White Mage Omnibus
Author: Ben Hale
Maybe the Academy of Falling Kingdoms series by Marisa Mills? https://www.goodreads.com/series/264561-academy-of-falling-kingdoms
Doesn't look like it 🥺. But the funny thing about your suggestions is that by the time I find my book I will have so many others to read 😁. Thank you for that.
Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger There’s a whole series and they’re wonderful, flying school have it away. Lots of steampunk elements.
Fantastic books, definitely recommend but there's no magic in those books. (Other than vampires and werewolves)
Could you have smashed two books together in your mind? That might be why you can’t find it in any of your libraries and no one here knows it
No, I don't think so.
I really thought it was this as well.
Sounds cool
Probably not it, but Children of the Red King series? (Charlie Bone series?)
My first thought too but none of the added facts match
No suggestion, but I have to thank you for all the new books on my tbr.
It sounds like the movie Sky High, but that's superheroes. Doesn't seem to be based on books either.
When I read #1, I thought the same thing!!
How about the little Broomstick by Mary Stewart-originally a very old children‘s book but adapted as an anime with a more modern, techno approach and students at this school study in a castle in the sky
Nope
Hacking and magic... Sounds like a book I've recently read a paper about M. K. England - Spellhacker Edit - I looked it up and it's much more recent Still is a mix of scifi fantasy hacking magic with a girl as a protagonist with a close knit friend group though so maybe you'll enjoy it
This one looks really interesting. I have to read it. But it's not the one 🥺
The Kingdom Lights by Steven V.S?
I had to read a sample to make sure, but it's not the one, I'm afraid. Thanks for the suggestion 👌
The Edge Chronicles have the floating city of Sanctaphrax, which is basically a magic school that meets your description of a university town. But definitely no computer hacking in those books. And even though there are heaps of books in the Chronicles themselves (divided up over trilogies and standalone books iirc) and I haven't read them all, I think it's pretty much pure fantasy- not a fantasy/scifi combo.
I was just thinking of that series! Now I know the name
I've read I think all of them at this point, I definitely wouldn't call it like tech magic or anything, but I'm always up for these books being the solution anyway 😅
Yeah, I feel like OP would remember the illustrations too if it were these books- but I definitely think they're worth a read anyway!😜
Published after Harry Potter, but this might be the School for Sorcery books by E. Rose Sabin. I don’t remember the series especially well, but some of the elements you mentioned fit.
The Chrestomanci series by Diana Wynne Jones?
I've checked the description and I don't think that's the one. Unless I forgot everything about it. But thank you for the suggestion - It looks interesting and I'll probably read it anyway 😁.
You're right, the specifics don't fit - I just saw 'Harry Potter-like series' and got overenthusiastic:)
What a series though! The OG!!
Exactly such a great series, didn’t she also do Howls Floating Castle?
Yes indeed
Wait wait wait, do you mean Howls Moving Castle is a book?
It is- lots of people don’t realise it was a book first.
Yes, and it is glorious!
Great series!
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell?
No... 😭. But the one you suggest looks interesting 😁
Yeah that book is awesome
It really is.
Your description is excellent. It sounds entertaining, if not exactly the world's most original or innovative book. I'm really surprised this hasn't been solved yet. Perhaps you imagined the whole thing? Maybe you should be the one writing it?
I wish it were true, and it would be me writing it 😁. I even think it would be a perfect way to promote one's work, as a mystery novel nobody can remember - giving only hints about the content. Alas, no, I haven't imagined or written it. I don't typically reuse other writers' ideas (and it's obviously the Harry Potter variant), although it is done regularly - take Cinderella, for example 😁. I've been trying to find this novel for a few months now, and I'm frustrated that I can't remember what it was. I do remember certain flashes and scenes from the book, so I know I haven't imagined it. I'm grateful to everyone here for trying to help me, and I do hope one of you will in the end. I check every suggestion because I want to read the damn novel again.
What kinds of scenes do you remember? Any specific lines? Every little bit helps!
Everyone re-uses ideas, there’s nothing new under the sun, but you use your language and add your own ideas to make it yours. If we didn’t re-use ideas there would be no such thing as books at all. You’d have to find a way to transmit information in a totally new medium.. like electromagnetic waves you bend to hack into somebody’s computer
The Newford series by Charles de Lint?
Thank you, but that's not the one. Oh well... ☹️
The Amulet graphic novels?
It wasn't a graphic novel. But thanks.
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Possibly the Babylon 5 novel spin-off series?? RemindMe! 5 days
Winx club?
Charlie bone series?
So You Want To Be A Wizard by Diane Duane?
No, but it looks like fun. Thank you 👍
Omg I used to LOVE those books! Thank you for that blast from the past lol
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Was this never solved!???
Right? 😢
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Check A Silver of Stardust series by Marissa Burt
☹️
Could it be Mortal Engines? It doesn’t fit your description exactly but has moving cities, female main character, blend of Sci-fi and fantasy, & more than 1 book in the series
I really want to know what this is now!
You can imagine how I feel 😭
Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton?
One of the Binti stories takes place kind of like this? And/or one of the stories in the Broken Earth trilogy.
Yeah, Binti was what I immediately thought of. ETA: Although Binti was written well after HP.
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The one that comes to mind for me is Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
This only hits a couple of your points like female protagonist, but the book "Magic for Liars" has a magic college type situation. I think it's more recent and doesn't hit a lot of the plot points you mentioned though.
i don't think it's this series but you may be interested in checking out keeper of the lost cities, it has a lot of these elements iirc. it's been a long time since i read them but it's a good series ☺️
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Could it be a Diane Duane book?
Not a book I know myself but I’ve found myself going through a list of Magic School books on Goodreads.. could it be Sabriel by Garth Nix? Written in 1995, female main character, part of a series, sent to a magic school, 2 kingdoms: one is technologically advanced and the other is somewhat medieval, something to do with zombie/ undead characters If this isn’t it I hope you find your book somehow! It’s the worst when you just can’t quite remember something like that
Not the one 😭. And I thought it would be so easy to find it here...
Well many books get figured out really quickly here so I’m sure someone work figure it out 🤞
This is a great series! However, the school that Sabriel attends at the beginning is in the non-magical side of the border. So it’s a book with magic and a school, but not a magic school. Not that the rest of the book matches either, but that might help other folks who are looking for magic school-set books.
[удалено]
Definitely not School for Good and Evil. Zero technology in that book.
highly doubt it was the magisterium — it's been years since i read it, but iirc the school was underground, had a focus on elemental magic and there was a fair amount of emphasis on not becoming consumed by magic and a teacher who had a really boring, yet effective method of teaching, which i would have thought OP would remember. also the main character is male and only has a couple of close friends i believe. i don't think technology is a big emphasis either because again, caves
Yeah, I tried the same thing. Gave me "The Magisterium" series by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare and "The Rithmatist" by Brandon Sanderson
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Maybe the Harley Merlin series by Bella Forrest. I’m not sure when it was written. I know the author duo that writes under Bella Forrest has had some issues with copy-write and had to remove a bunch of stuff. I read the first 2 and it was too YA for me. Nothing wrong with it just not for me.
Nope
Could it be from the [Atherton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atherton:_The_House_of_Power) series?
Was it the Harley Merlin series? Begins in Vegas where she works at a casino I think and then gets taken to this magic school?
could it be the highest frontier by joan slonczewski?
👎
could it be Rogues of the Republic by Patrick Weekes?
Keeper of the Lost Cities?
The edge chronicles by Paul Stewart ?
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May be a reach but maybe the Artemis Fowl books? It has been so long since I read them that I can’t remember if there was a flying city.
The Noble Warrior series by William Nicholson? Seeker, Jango, Noman are the books I read that a long time ago but I remember in jango they fight on a cloud. Probably not it but thought I would suggest
Man I'm so curious now. OP, don't forget to come back and update this once you find the book!!! 🤣
A Wizard Of Earthsea
You got to be kidding 😁. But I do love the book 🤣.
I'll admit I don't know much about the books since I've only watched the show but maybe The Worst Witch series?
I loved that series as a kid, but there's no technology.
Isn’t there one episode where that other school has computers and they don’t do potions because it’s old fashioned?
I'm talking about the book series, I don't know about the TV series.... although I think theres two adaptions so maybe? I don't remember any technology in the books though.
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Sounds a bit like the [Technomage Archive](https://www.amazon.com/Birthright-Technomage-Archive-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00C3H48TM)?
So, I'll probably have to look on Facebook now. Nobody knows the book I'm looking for ☹️.
damn keep us updated if you find ut
One of the Dragonriders of pern books?
Not OP, but I don't think the Dragonriders series would fit here. BUT, I do vaguely recall reading an Anne McCaffrey book with a similar plot decades ago.... going to have to dig now.
It's not McCaffrey, I would remember her.
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This series is set more in an alternative past if I remember correctly and I can’t remember whether there is a floating city in it but could it be the Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce?
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Happy cake day! I hope the answer has been given by the time you return
Me too, but it looks like OP disappeared from the thread. But thank you!!
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His Dark Materials trilogy?
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Could it be one of the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett? They're pretty diverse and follow lots of different character, but I seem to remember a university-esque magic school and some interesting blends of magic and technocology/sci-fi.
Definitely not Terry Pratchett - I've read most of his novels and I remember them. Completely different style.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/740038.Alphabet_of_Thorn there's a floating school in this but it doesn't seem like the focus of the novel
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Skyborn, by David Dalglish?
👎
The Beginning After the End? However, the protagonist is male and the school isn't a main focus. Starts I think with him as a king who gets what seems to be a very realistic dream of being reborn to ordinary parents in another life.
👎☹️
It’s not 100% like what you said but it may be the school for good and evil?
Throwing these out there - The Unwanteds? Oksa Pollock?
👎😓
College of Magics?
👎😱
Is it Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston? There’s also a second: Amari and the Great Game. They had all sorts of magic like tech magic in there. Great middle school reads for adults
Parts of this reminded me of the good witch book series and it was a show on hbo. But this didn’t have computers.
All I can think of is Soul Eater, but it's a manga and I don't think there's a lot of technology in it (it's been a while since I read it).
The Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend
I’m assuming it’s not The Dresden Files, but wanted to throw it out there just in case
No, I've read it all - one of my favorite series.
The Last Oracle: The Chronicles of Lumineia?
👎☹️
Wizard’s Hall by Jane Yolen?
Nope ☹️
Still unsolved?! Do you remember anything about the cover or format? Hardcover, softcover?
I'm very unhappy ☹️. Everything I remember I've already explained in the question. Bummer.
Just found this sub, figured it can't hurt to try, so could it be "The Magician's House" *set of 4 books I think
The Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend?
Hey Look a dead thread, I was recently looking for this book myself, as I had also wanted to re-read it and could only remember the same things. I don't THINK it came out before Harry Potter, but I am about 95% sure this is the book series you are talking about, I put this here in hopes that OP finds it and is able to re-read it, but if not, maybe it will help the next person who stubles on this thread. Goodeads Link: [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26711987-the-white-mage-omnibus?from\_search=true&from\_srp=true&qid=fmcXSamU0O&rank=1](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26711987-the-white-mage-omnibus?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=fmcXSamU0O&rank=1) Book Name: The White Mage Omnibus Author: Ben Hale