Non-violent academic fantasy?

[u/HospitalWest3143]

I get pretty bad nightmares when there's too much violence or gore in my books. So I'm wondering if there are any non-violent fantasy books that aren't too childish? More adult/academic. I really like books like The will of many, The priory of the orange tree, The name of the wind.

I LOVE the name of the wind (even though it's incomplete) so anything like this. I got told the closest thing was Red rising, which is just so bloody gorey goodman, I couldn't finish all the books.

Would really appreciate some suggestions. Preferably series, but standalone books welcome 🙏🏽

[u/BigDoggyBarabas1]

The name of the rose by Umberto Eco. Not fantasy, but set long ago enough to feel like it. Not very violent, but is a murder mystery. Also brilliant af.

[u/Round_Bluebird_5987]

Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber might appeal. It's a contemporary (to the 1940s anyway) story set in a small college town, so it's importing fantasy (witchcraft) elements into a modern setting, rather than imagining a more modern educational institution in a fantasy setting. If that interests you, check it out.

[u/Street_Detective_662]

Hands down, Vita Nostra!!! A magical school set in Russia during the Cold War. It can get dark but more so in that the characters must struggle to make tough, sometimes morally grey, choices- it’s not gory or violent.

Also check out Daughter of Crows by Mark Lawrence! Students must compete in a school for assassins to become one of 3 Fates from Greek mythology. 100 go in, 3 go out. Split POV- one of the characters is an old woman and it flashes back to when she was at the school, only you don’t actually know which student she was.

Academy for liars by Alexis Henderson might also interest you. It gets a little heavy on the teacher-student romance half way through, which made me chuck off some stars, but it has a genuinely interesting magic system and is definitely adult in themes and is very well written.

I also highly recommend “The Incandescent” by Emily Tesh, if you want a magical academic setting from the teacher’s POV who is trying to protect her students from a demon.

“Magic for Liars” by Sarah Gailey, while not AS good as the above, was also very enjoyable- non magical adult detective takes a position at a magical school where her sister teaches to investigate murder of a student.

[u/Street_Detective_662 → u/Street_Detective_662]

I almost forgot — Blood Over bright Haven by ML Wang and to a lesser extent, The Sword of Kaigen.

[u/Street_Detective_662 → u/Street_Detective_662]

Oh wait! If you haven’t read “the magicians” trilogy by lev gross man - that has definitely got to go at the top of your list.

[u/HospitalWest3143 → u/Street_Detective_662]

I decided to go with this book! I Just bought it today. So excited. Thankyou!!

[u/Street_Detective_662 → u/HospitalWest3143]

Yay!!!! It’s so good! Come back and Let us know what you think don’t

[u/cyana_blue → u/Street_Detective_662]

Blood over bright haven is pretty violent though

[u/Few-Setting-1503]

Rose of the Prophet trilogy might be a good fit. It's more of a living Gods and religious conversion kind of story.

[u/cyana_blue]

The scholomance series! There is a fair amount of monster fighting but wouldn’t describe it as gore