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The Red Magician by Lisa Goldstein

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In The Red Magician, did you enjoy ...

... the mystical, folkloric magic woven into Jewish history and myth?

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

If you were captivated by the enigmatic magic and folklore that permeate The Red Magician, you'll be drawn into The Golem and the Jinni. This novel brings to life turn-of-the-century New York with two magical beings—Chava, a golem made of clay, and Ahmad, a jinni born of fire—whose supernatural origins and struggles echo the haunting, mysterious powers of Vörös and the deep-rooted mythos of Eastern Europe. You'll appreciate how Wecker blends myth, history, and wonder into a tale of displacement and hope.

... the blend of magic and trauma to explore history and transformation?

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

If you connected with Kicsi’s harrowing journey through loss, survival, and self-discovery in The Red Magician, you’ll find Kindred equally powerful. Butler’s protagonist, Dana, is suddenly transported between 1970s California and antebellum Maryland, forced to confront the horrors of slavery and her own resilience. The mix of otherworldly events and personal growth echoes Kicsi’s experience during and after the Holocaust, making this a moving, transformative read.

... a loose, dreamlike magic that shapes destinies and blurs boundaries between worlds?

The Book of Atrix Wolfe by Patricia A. McKillip

If you admired the mysterious and undefined nature of magic in The Red Magician—the way Vörös’s powers feel both wondrous and unpredictable—you’ll be enchanted by The Book of Atrix Wolfe. McKillip crafts a tale where magic is as elusive as mist, shaping characters’ fates in unexpected ways. The haunting, lyrical prose and ambiguous enchantments will resonate with your love of the enigmatic and the mystical.

... the emotional impact of encountering the Holocaust through magical realism?

The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

If you were moved by how The Red Magician uses magic to process the trauma of the Holocaust, The Devil’s Arithmetic will strike a similar chord. In this novel, Hannah, a modern Jewish girl, is transported back in time to a Nazi death camp, forced to live through the realities her ancestors faced. The blending of history and the supernatural creates a powerful, emotional journey that will leave a lasting impression.

... a fairy-tale tone that delivers deep allegory and haunting beauty?

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

If you cherished the allegorical storytelling and melancholy wonder of The Red Magician, The Last Unicorn will enchant you. Beagle’s tale of a unicorn’s quest is layered with symbolism and poetic beauty, exploring themes of loss, hope, and transformation. Like Kicsi’s journey, the narrative weaves magic with real-world pain and longing, offering both sorrow and solace.

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