Mutant and Proud: Science Fiction and Fantasy Books to Read Based On Your Favorite X-Men

A shapeshifting mutant of unknown origins, Mystique has had her time as both an antagonist and an antihero. She's a complex character that readers either tend to really love or really hate.

While many of us may consider her a highly seductive character due to her portrayal by Rebecca Romijn in the 2000 X-Men movie, Mystique does her fair share of shapeshifting and seduction in the comics as well. One notable instance includes a time in which she becomes twins to bed Gambit—after two prior failed attempts at seducing him, of course.

If you enjoy Mystique's versatility and are drawn to this seductive angle, then you'll love Richelle Mead's Succubus Blues.

As a succubus, Georgina Kincaid and turn into anything she wants, and mortal men would give anything—even their souls—for one touch. But the life she's built for herself in Seattle isn't quite as exciting as the ones other demon's have chosen.

By day she works at a bookstore, binging free books, mocha drinks, and stolen glances at her crush, author Seth Mortensen.

But there's something wicked afoot in Seattle's demon underground, and Georgina's charms and tricks may not be enough to stop it.

Born in Canada in the 19th century, Logan is a tragic mutant with an accelerated healing ability that renders him functionally immortal, as well as deadly bestial abilities like acute senses, increased strength and agility, and retractable bone claws.

After being experimented on in the Weapon X program, Logan was made an even more lethal killer when his skeleton was coated in indestructible adamantium.

The Titan Strain by Virginia Soenksen is a great read for people fascinated by Wolverine's animalistic nature and background as a test subject.

In the wake of World War II, London is struggling to rebuild. Under the rule of the fascist Libertas Party, the dilapidated city is overrun with crime, corruption, and illegal genetic modifications that have humans transforming into animalistic mods.

By day, these mods blend seamlessly into normal society. But come nightfall, they take control of the ruins beyond the city limits. As people frequently vanish off the street, survivors make it through by turning a blind eye to the atrocities around them.

Since girlhood, Liane has been trained to be an unfeeling killing machine called Agent. Her sole purpose is to fulfill the orders of the Agency, the secret government organization that enforces the will of the Libertas.

But as the leash of the Libertas gets tighter and tighter, Liane longs for a normal life. She sneaks away to the ruins to find companionship among the mods.

When the mods start turning up murdered and mutilated around London, Liane defies her bosses and sets out to protect the only people who have ever cared for her.

One of my personal favorites, Rogue has the ability to absorb other's energy through physical touch, resulting in her gaining access to their mutant abilities, memories, and even their personality. The downside of her powers is that they're involuntary, and result in unconsciousness or a permanent vegetative state for those whose energy she absorbs.

Whether you're drawn in by Anna Marie's lethal touch or the incredible romance between her and Gambit, This Vicious Grace may just be the perfect read for you.

Alessa has been given a gift from the gods—a power that is supposed to amplify a partner's magic, but seems to only kill every suitor she comes into contact with.

Now with her island on the verge of a devastating demon attack, Alessa is running out of time to find a partner and stop the invasion in its tracks. And when a powerful priest claims that killing Alessia is their islands only hope, her own soldier's set out to assassinate her.

In her desperation, Alessia hires a bodyguard, cynical outcast Dante. Though as rebellion sweeps through the island, it may be the dark secrets Dante's keeping that end up being the biggest betrayal of all.

Before she was the legendary X-Men member Storm, Ororo Munroe had humble beginnings as a thief in Cairo. Of course, she later relocated to Kenya, where her magnificent control over the weather had her revered as a goddess.

If Storm is one of your favorites, and you want to read more speculative fiction that draws on African mythology, then you might be interested in Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone.

Zélie Adebola remembers how Orïsha's soil once sang with magic. There were Burners that conjured flames, Tiders that beckoned waves, and Reapers, like Zélie’s mother, who summoned souls.

But everything crumbled when a brutal king ordered all maji to be killed. Zélie lost her mother, and Orïsha lost its magic and hope.

Zélie now has one shot at resurrecting magic and toppling the monarchy. Aided by a rogue princess, Zélie must outfox the crown prince who is out to eradicate magic for good.

Though Orïsha is a dangerous landscape to travel, perhaps the greatest danger of all lies within Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers.

Everybody loves Gambit, so I know you're all locked into this recommendation.

Gambit's mutant power is the ability to infuse objects with kinetic energy. He's also pretty good with a bo staff.

He's got a checkered past and a gray morality, but his roguish charm—complete with a Cajun flair—makes him a fan favorite. Raised by the Thieves Guild and eventually becoming its leader, he's a smooth-talking conman.

As such, you'll probably enjoy Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora!

Young Locke Lamora is an orphan living in the enigmatic island city of Camorr. As his life is plagued with danger, he becomes a thief under the guidance of a master con artist.

Locke achieves infamy after becoming the leader of the thieves known as the Gentlemen Bastards, swindling even the most feared ruler of the underworld. But waiting in the shadows is someone with even more deadly ambition than Locke himself.

As a lethal coup puts everything Locke has built at risk, the conman sets out to put his enemy in his place—or die trying.

Jean Grey is a mutant of unimaginable power, mastering telepathy and telekinesis. Though sometimes it seems to master her.

Bonded with the cosmic entity Phoenix, Jean Grey can wield godlike abilities to protect the universe. When she's corrupted, Dark Phoenix threatens all of existence.

If you're drawn in by the complexities that come with unmatched power, than you may like More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon.

Separately, they're just six misfits: a simpleminded young man who can read thoughts, a runaway girl with telekinesis, twin girls who can teleport, an infant with the mind of a supercomputer, and Gerry. Gerry is a powerful telepathic who not only lacks a moral compass, but despises the entire world.

Before Gerry joined the group, they came together as a single being known as the Gestalt. They were a remarkable collection of parts.

But when Gerry comes along, they just may be the catastrophic end of civilization.

We can't deny that Magneto has done some horrible things in the name of mutant supremacy. But we also can't deny that he's kind of right about mutant oppression a lot of the time. His motivations track, okay?

One of the most powerful known mutants, Magneto has control over magnetism and metal, as well as a genius-level intellect that makes him a force to be reckoned with.

As frequently standing in as the arch nemesis of the X-Men as he is their loyal ally, Magneto has a deep friendship and fierce respect for X-Men mentor Charles Xavier. But this complex bond makes him no less stubborn, and despite the destruction he causes, he thinks he's doing the right thing for his people.

If you're addicted to Magneto's complex morality, then you're going to love V.E. Schwab's Vicious.

Victor and Eli were a pair of arrogant and lonely boys who met as college roommates. Recognizing they had the same fierce ambition, they became natural friends.

During their senior year, they both researched their fascination with adrenaline, near-death experiences, and supernatural phenomena. They hypothesized that, given the right circumstances, an individual could develop remarkable abilities. However, when this idea moved from the hypothetical to the experimental, things went terribly wrong.

A decade later, Victor escapes from prison to hunt down his friend-turned-foe, with the help of a reserved young girl with an incredible power. For his part, Eli is out to eliminate all other super-powered people, with the exception of his sidekick, a mysterious woman with an iron will.

Both sides have horrifying power. Both sides are spurred on by betrayal and loss. In this collision course of revenge, who will come out alive?

Nightcrawler is one for the weirdos, and I mean that with love.

Despite looking like a demon and having Mystique for a mother, Kurt Wagner has one of the softest hearts around. He has the power of teleportation, which doesn't sound that cool in theory, but he really brings the “it factor” with his BAMFs.

Kurt is a devout Roman Catholic, which has an interesting interplay with his hellish appearance. And while he's an outcast most places he goes, he had a happy run as a trapeze artist in the circus—that is, until it got a lot less happy…

If you've got a soft spot for circus freaks with big hearts, then you might like The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

There's never any warning when the circus arrives, it just pops up out of nowhere, where once there was nothing. Under the striped tents lies a remarkable experience full of unimaginably amazing talents and wonders. And this spectacle known as Le Cirque des Rêves only opens at night.

However, behind the scenes a cutthroat competition is afoot. Celica and Marco are young magicians who have been trained since they were children to compete against one another in a duel. Little do they know, the intention is for only one of them to be left standing.

But in spite of the high stakes, it seems Celia and Marco have fallen madly in love. In the wake of their passion, dangerous consequences befall both the performers and the patrons of the beloved circus.