Not too long ago, I dove into the world of genre fusions by sharing some of my favorite works of historical fantasy. If you’re curious, you can read that post here. Today, I’m going to take a look at another fantasy genre fusion, this time between fantasy and mystery. As far as I’m aware, this genre fusion doesn’t have an official name, but I’m fascinated by it, particularly because the genres it pulls from are so different. While a fantasy novel usually has to follow a certain set of rules in order to be believable, those rules can be just about anything the author wants, and many fantasy authors revel in breaking established conventions of the genre. Mysteries, on the other hand, are bound by a strict set of genre expectations. The very best fusions between fantasy and mystery, in my opinion, are capable of reinvigorating both of the genres they pull inspiration from. Let’s get started!

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher

When poison expert Anja is summoned by the King to uncover the cause of his daughter Snow’s mysterious illness, she knows the stakes couldn’t be higher.  When she arrives at the royal palace, Anja finds both her young patient and the court surrounding her haunted by secrets and scarred by tragedy.  Soon, Anja discovers that the cause of Snow’s illness is not medical, but magical, devised by a ruthless adversary who lurks within the castle’s mirrors.  To save Snow and stop the magic of the mirrors from falling into the wrong hands, Anja’s courage and smarts will be put to the test.  My favorite element of this loose retelling of Snow White was the surreal,  creepy mirror-realm.  T. Kingfisher’s horror chops were certainly evident in some of the scenes featuring it, and while the mirror magic was a little confusing at first, this actually turned out to be to the story’s benefit.  The reader discovers how the mirrors work side-by-side with Anja, thereby getting a good sense of how this mystery’s detective thinks well before the main climax.  If you’re looking for a new twist on an old story, told with T. Kingfisher’s signature humor and heart, Hemlock & Silver will chill, intrigue, and enchant you.

Unnatural Magic by C.M. Waggoner

Unnatural Magic opens in the country of Daeslund, where humans and trolls have lived for centuries in uneasy cooperation, with tensions worsening in recent years. After a string of murders targeting trolls, three unlikely people find themselves embroiled in the search for the culprit: aspiring magician Onna, misfit troll Tsira, and charming ex-soldier Jevick.  There are so many details in this book that just sing.  As a history nerd, I was very happy to read a Victorian-inspired fantasy that really seems to Get the Victorian era: there’s weird self-help fads, social etiquette so intricate it’s lousy with loopholes, et cetera.  The magic system, which resembles advanced mathematics more than anything else, was also very refreshing to see.  But perhaps most importantly, I found Waggoner’s characters a delight to spend time with.  Onna is a wonderfully realized heroine, and the juxtaposition of her logical outlook with an inner romantic streak thoroughly won my heart.  The romance between Tsira and Jevick was also beautifully written.  Best of all, if you fall in love with the world of Unnatural Magic the way I did, there’s already a sequel, The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry, which new fans can pick up right away.

No Gods For Drowning by Hailey Piper

In No Gods for Drowning, Hailey Piper imagines a world where distant, uncaring gods once held absolute sway over humanity – but no longer.  In the rainy city of Valentine, a series of ritualistic murders suggests that someone might be trying to call the gods back, and the private detectives of Ace Investigations might be the only ones who can stop them.  No Gods For Drowning is a rare brew, an ambitious fusion of fantasy, horror, noir, and weird fiction.  I found the construction of the mystery in this book to be very interesting.  The audience learns the culprit’s identity fairly quickly, meaning the book is more “howcatchem” than “whodunit” – the tension comes from not knowing whether the detectives will uncover the truth and stop the culprit in time.  I also found myself entranced by the setting of Valentine itself.  In the author’s note, Piper describes this story’s lengthy journey to its final iteration, and you can feel those years of dedication as you read.  For every detail Piper shares about Valentine and the world surrounding it, you can tell there’s five more just beneath the surface, and that goes a long way towards helping the setting feel real. I’d play a video game or a TTRPG set in this world in a heartbeat. No Gods for Drowning feels like a work of creative alchemy – the revitalization of old settings and stories into something completely new.