Mercedes Lackey’s “Bedlam’s Bard” series is an urban fantasy series about a Juilliard protege who has a mental breakdown, runs off to joint a Renn Faire circuit, and accidentally summons some elves. The magic system is heavily based around music.
Her “Bardic Voices” series is about a bunch of non-magic bards in a fantasy-world, and involves a lot of musical studying and sharing. Very problematic fantasy ‘gypsy’ culture, though.
Virtual-Two3405 on
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby would be a good one.
eighty2angelfan on
The Spellsinger is an old fantasy series about a guy that gets pulled into a fantasy world where he can do magic by playing and singing 70s rock songs.
jstnpotthoff on
The Wishbones by Tom Perrotta
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
weenertron on
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
invisible_23 on
Daisy Jones and the Six
boxer_dogs_dance on
Maestro by Gold’sworthy ,
White Tears by Hari Kunzru,
The Spell Singer by Allan Dean Foster
SubstantialCrab5 on
“Light from Uncommon Stars” The devil and aliens are promenade characters, it’s a bit odd
Bearded-Dragon93 on
Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss. It’s fantasy, but the main character is as close to a DND bard as I’ve ever seen in fiction.
ShoppingOutrageous51 on
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
At the End of the Matinee by Keiichiro Hirano
alammuhiuddin on
“Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell: This is a contemporary romance novel that follows two misfit teenagers who bond over their love of music, particularly mixtapes.
“If I Stay” by Gayle Forman: This novel tells the story of Mia, a talented cellist, following a car accident. Music plays a significant role in Mia’s life, and her passion for the cello is a central theme.
“High Fidelity” by Nick Hornby: This novel revolves around a record store owner and music enthusiast named Rob Fleming. It explores themes of love and relationships through the lens of Rob’s musical obsession.
“Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan: This young adult novel is set in the New York City music scene and follows two teenagers, one of whom is in a band. The story unfolds over the course of one night and is filled with music references.
“This Song Will Save Your Life” by Leila Sales: The protagonist in this novel is a high school student named Elise who discovers her passion for DJing and nightlife, using music as a means of self-discovery.
“Daisy Jones & The Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid: This book is written in an interview format and chronicles the rise and fall of a fictional rock band in the 1970s. Music is at the core of the narrative.
DaglarBizimdir on
Iain Banks, *Espedair Street* (“a mixture of Led Zeppelin and Abba” as he put it).
Janice Galloway, *Clara* (Clara Schumann).
Thomas Mann, *Doctor Faustus* (biographically Nietzsche, musically Schoenberg).
jakobjaderbo on
*Nocturnes* by Kazuo Ishiguro is a collection of short stories with music and musicians as a connecting theme.
13 Comments
Mercedes Lackey’s “Bedlam’s Bard” series is an urban fantasy series about a Juilliard protege who has a mental breakdown, runs off to joint a Renn Faire circuit, and accidentally summons some elves. The magic system is heavily based around music.
Her “Bardic Voices” series is about a bunch of non-magic bards in a fantasy-world, and involves a lot of musical studying and sharing. Very problematic fantasy ‘gypsy’ culture, though.
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby would be a good one.
The Spellsinger is an old fantasy series about a guy that gets pulled into a fantasy world where he can do magic by playing and singing 70s rock songs.
The Wishbones by Tom Perrotta
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Daisy Jones and the Six
Maestro by Gold’sworthy ,
White Tears by Hari Kunzru,
The Spell Singer by Allan Dean Foster
“Light from Uncommon Stars” The devil and aliens are promenade characters, it’s a bit odd
Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss. It’s fantasy, but the main character is as close to a DND bard as I’ve ever seen in fiction.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
At the End of the Matinee by Keiichiro Hirano
“Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell: This is a contemporary romance novel that follows two misfit teenagers who bond over their love of music, particularly mixtapes.
“If I Stay” by Gayle Forman: This novel tells the story of Mia, a talented cellist, following a car accident. Music plays a significant role in Mia’s life, and her passion for the cello is a central theme.
“High Fidelity” by Nick Hornby: This novel revolves around a record store owner and music enthusiast named Rob Fleming. It explores themes of love and relationships through the lens of Rob’s musical obsession.
“Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan: This young adult novel is set in the New York City music scene and follows two teenagers, one of whom is in a band. The story unfolds over the course of one night and is filled with music references.
“This Song Will Save Your Life” by Leila Sales: The protagonist in this novel is a high school student named Elise who discovers her passion for DJing and nightlife, using music as a means of self-discovery.
“Daisy Jones & The Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid: This book is written in an interview format and chronicles the rise and fall of a fictional rock band in the 1970s. Music is at the core of the narrative.
Iain Banks, *Espedair Street* (“a mixture of Led Zeppelin and Abba” as he put it).
Janice Galloway, *Clara* (Clara Schumann).
Thomas Mann, *Doctor Faustus* (biographically Nietzsche, musically Schoenberg).
*Nocturnes* by Kazuo Ishiguro is a collection of short stories with music and musicians as a connecting theme.