Books and astrology have one thing in common—they spin stories that help us know ourselves better and figure out our place in the world. Your favorite books and genres might reveal the kind of things you like or the causes you believe in. Similarly, zodiac signs which utilize patterns, myths, and archetypes, can hold the clues to our personalities, tell us who we may be compatible with, and even predict the future. So, whether you swear by birth-charts or just occasionally read the horoscope column, it might be fun to choose your next fantasy read based on your zodiac sign.
Aries
The Sun and the Void
As a fire sign, Aries are known to be bold and competitive, with a love for adventure. Gabriela Romero Lacruz’s debut epic fantasy novel, The Sun and The Void, alternates between the points-of-view of two girls—both underdogs determined to make their own fate. Packed with fast-paced action, lots of magic and some sapphic pining, this novel inspired by Venezuelan folklore is an unputdownable read.
Taurus
Guardians of Dawn: Zhara
Taurus folks often turn out to be the most loyal and dependable—the friend you can always rely on. They are also pretty sensual and love their material comforts, so I’d recommend something cozy and light-hearted such as Zhara: Guardians of Dawn. It’s an utterly delightful Cinderella retelling by S. Jae-Jones, set in an East-Asian-inspired fantasy world with plenty of hijinks, a himbo prince, and a very cute romance.
Gemini
The Song of Achilles
The Song of Achilles is an achingly beautiful novel that focuses on the homoerotic relationship between Achilles and Patroclus from the Greek mythos. It’s perfect for the versatile Geminis who are represented by the celestial twins and can appreciate how beauty and tragedy can coexist in life and in art.
Cancer
The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar
Cancer individuals are highly intuitive and sentimental but might struggle with communication. The symbol for Cancer is the crab, a creature that has made both the sea and the shore its home. Indra Das’s exquisite magical realism novella, The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar, is perfect for Cancer bookworms looking for the magical in the mundane. It tells the story of Ru, a shy and sensitive “boy from nowhere” whose family are migrants from another reality, his friendship with Alice, a neighbor, and the memories of magic and dragons that become his legacy.
Leo
Ace of Shades
For the outgoing and dramatic Leos, I’d suggest Amanda Foody’s YA fantasy novel Ace of Shades. Just as Enne Salta leaves the prim and proper world of her finishing school to venture into crime-laced streets and make deals with a con artist, so too the reader is taken on on a breathless, roller coaster ride through glitzy casinos, cabarets, and mafia dens.
Virgo
The Goddess Chronicle
Virgos are diligent, logical, and self-critical to a fault. Their quest for perfection can be both a strength and weakness, which makes The Goddess Chronicle by Natsuo Kirino (translated by Rebecca Copeland) the ideal read for them. This short book darkly reimagines the Japanese myth of Izanami and Izanaki, mediated through a powerful and tragic story of a woman’s quest for revenge and closure (or the lack thereof) in a patriarchal universe.
Libra
The Futurological Congress
Published in 1978, The Futurological Congress is an underrated, extremely prescient and wildly inventive gem of a novel that imagines a drug-addled future where “art” is consumed and people prefer hallucinations to the harsh truths of reality. It’s perfect for the Libra bookworm who’s passionate about the arts and doesn’t shy away from a challenge, and extremely relevant in an age where algorithms are replacing the jobs of writers and artists.
Scorpio
The Mask of Mirrors
Scorpios can be resourceful and charismatic but don’t let that facade fool you—they’re often full of mysteries and secrets. As such, they’ll definitely enjoy Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick, where a con artist tries to infiltrate the nobility by masquerading as one of them, and get embroiled in various political conspiracies. The prose is lush, and the story so deliciously decadent and gothic, you’ll be hungry for more.
Sagittarius
The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport
A Samit Basu novel means that the readers can expect to have a gloriously fun time, and that’s exactly what a Sagittarius wants all the time. The Jinn-bot of Shantiport is a brilliantly chaotic Aladdin retelling of sorts, where Lina (the daughter of revolutionaries), her brother Bador (a very endearing monkey-bot), and the narrator Moku (a flying disc) work together to save their city from the corrupt superpowers. Filled with optimism, unpredictable-but-thoroughly-satisfying twists and turns, and the sweetest, subtlest queer-platonic romance, it’s a match made in heaven for the thrill-seeking, spontaneous Sagittarius.
Capricorn
Maddalena and the Dark
The magic in Julia Fine’s lyrical novel, Maddalena and The Dark, is slight but it's definitely there, like an ominous shadow. It details the intense friendship between two girls at a prestigious music school, and how desire and ambition can unite or break the toughest bond: perfect for the tenacious Capricorns who love their independence.
Aquarius
Mad Sisters of Esi
Aquarius readers love innovation and philosophy, and they’ll definitely love Mad Sisters of Esi, an extremely imaginative one-of-a-kind novel by Tashan Mehta. With nested narratives, fairytales, diary excerpts, academic papers and footnotes all seamlessly woven into the text, the novel plays around with form and structure while also telling a haunting, emotional story about the love between siblings and the grief of separation.
Pisces
A Face Like Glass
Finally, for the artistic and empathic Pisces, a gorgeous book like Frances Harding’s A Face Like Glass is guaranteed to get you out of a reading slump. It’s set in an underground city where artists toil to craft the most exquisite wonders even as their faces remain empty as a blank canvas. When a little girl called Neverfell follows a white rabbit to this subterranean city, she’s in for a wild and whimsy adventure much like Alice in her trip to Wonderland. If you’re looking for something to breathe magic into your humdrum life, give this gorgeous book a read.