Highlights
- The series revolves around the Shiba siblings at First High School of Magic, with Tatsuya as an Irregular due to his unique abilities.
- Other light novels like The Daybreak and The Familiar of Zero offer similar magic-centric worlds and engaging character dynamics.
- Overlord and A Certain Magical Index introduce unique twists on magic systems and fantastical elements while keeping readers hooked.
The Irregular At Magic High School series has been going strong for over a decade, and with a newly- released third season for its anime adaptation, it seems its strength will not be waning anytime soon. The series initially began as a light novel written by Sato Tsutomu and illustrated by Ishida Kana. The series follows the central characters, the Shiba siblings, Tatsuya and Miyuki, and their lives as they both enroll in the First High School of Magic.
While Miyuki, a prodigious mage, is placed in the first course, her brother, Tatsuya, is placed in the second course due to his test scores, which show him as magically inept. Tatsuya becomes an Irregular due to possessing extraordinary technical knowledge and combat abilities. Therefore, for fans and readers of the series and those who prefer the limitless worlds of magic and technology, below are some of the best light novels, just as exciting as The Irregular at Magic High series.
8 The Daybreak
Anime-Planet Rating: N/A
- Creator(s): Suzuboke, Inujima Momoka
- No. Of Volumes: 2
- Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
The Daybreak, just like the Irregular at Magic High School, features two central characters and a world premised on the capabilities of magic. The significant difference, however, is the relationship between the central characters. Unlike the latter, The Daybreak’s central characters are in odd contractual relationships. The series follows Haruka, a high school student whose life is turned upside down when she is suddenly summoned to another world, where she becomes a magician.
Things get even more complicated when Haruka disguises a man during battle and comes across a knight on the verge of death who forces her to make a bet with him. Forced to ensure his survival, Haruka heals the knight to the point of losing consciousness, and when she awakens, the mysterious knight comes to visit. Proclaiming her the winner of their bet, the mysterious knight suddenly forces her into a master-servant contract, tying both fates to each other.
7 The Familiar of Zero
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5
- Creator(s): Yamaguchi Noboru, Usatsuka Eiji
- No. Of Volumes: 22
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Ecchi
The Familiar of Zero is set on the continent of Halkegania, in the small but significant Kingdom of Tristein, where magic is more a norm than a reality. The series revolves around the young central character, Louise, who shares more than a few similarities with Tatsuya Shiba of the Irregular at Magic High.
Like the latter, Louise is famous for being magically inept to the point where she is at the bottom of her class. She has even been dubbed the funny nickname “Zero” by her classmates due to her magic success rate. Louise’s magical reputation takes another nosedive when she, alongside her classmates, is asked to summon a familiar. Instead of a magical creature, her familiar arrives in the form of another character, Saito Hiraga, an ordinary Japanese boy who has been abruptly summoned from his world. Now responsible for each other, the pair must face reality and find Saito a way home.
6 Blade Dance of Elementalers
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5
- Creator(s): Shimizu Yuu, Sakura Hanpen, Shimesaba Kohada, Nimura Yuuji
- No. Of Volumes: 20
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural, Ecchi
Blade Dance of Elementalers features a world of magic and elemental spirits, which can only be summoned by young maidens called spirit elementalers. The Fate of the spirit elementalers rests solely on a singular tournament, where the winner is granted one sole wish and, in addition, blessing and protection for the winner’s home country. Therefore, as a result of the fierceness of the Tournament, each nation is pressured to produce the next “Strongest Blade Dancer” to receive the blessings and protection attached to the tournament’s winner.
The series follows the protagonist, Kamito Kazehaya, who, like Tatsuya the Irregular, is something of an irregular himself in the series, as he is the only male spirit elementaler, a conspicuous contrast to his female counterparts, and an existence which ordinarily should not exist. Mandated to attend the Areishia Spirit Academy, Kamito finds himself among other spirit contractors of his age, and among them is the red-haired Claire, who insists that he becomes her humanoid contracted spirit. Kamito, on the other hand, has only one wish— to reunite with his former contracted spirit, Restia Ashdoll, and win the Blade Dance of Elementalers tournament.
5 The World’s Greatest Little Sister
Anime-Planet Rating: N/A
- Creator(s): Nyanya, Kim Wolhui
- No. Of Volumes: 4
- Genre: Action, Comedy Ecchi
The World’s Greatest Little Sister is similar to the Irregular at Magic High due to the familial relationships between their central characters, specifically as siblings. Like the latter, one of the siblings is a proclaimed genius, while the other does not precisely fit into that sort of life, making them an oddity or rather ‘Irregular’ in the series.
The series revolves around the central characters, Siyoiung, a regular young person, and Maria Lunalady Blackazel, his prodigious younger sister, who is the leader of a ruthless multinational private military company and is known as the Princess of Pure Darkness. Maria is the subject of much hatred and admiration from all around her. However, to Siyoung, she’s just an irrelevant person who lives in a world utterly different from him, that is, until she suddenly shows up and kisses him. Siyoung’s life would forever change from that moment on.
4 A Certain Magical Index
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5
- Creator(s): Kamachi Kazuma, Haimura Kiyotaka
- No. Of Volumes: 22
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Supernatural
Like the Irregular at Magic High, a Certain Magical Index is premised on a world that thrives and advances from magic. Where magic is harnessed and used as natural energy, the series follows Touma Kamijou, a low-level esper whose abilities are deemed useless. While it may be so, Touma’s ability is called the ‘Imagine Breaker,’ which allows his right hand to nullify any supernatural powers upon coming in contact with them.
Touma’s life suddenly shifts when he mysteriously encounters a girl called Index Librorum, who explains to him the danger she’s in as magicians are hunting her. From that moment on, Touma is exposed to a world he never knew existed. The pair find themselves between the edge of both worlds of magic and science, with their lives on the line with every move they make.
3 The Magic In This Other World Is Too Far Behind
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.8 / 5
- Creator(s): Himesuz, Hitsuji Gamei, Nekonabe Ao
- No. Of Volumes: 9
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
The Magic In This Other World Is Too Far Behind, like the titular series, is premised on the existence and use of magic. However, unlike the Irregular At Magic High, where magic and its use had made significant advancement and strides of progress, the series’ employment of magic is more or less under-advanced compared to what the series’ central character is used to. The series revolves around the protagonist, Suimei, and two of his best friends, who are suddenly summoned to another world.
Summoned to act as heroes, as typical of a fantasy isekai, a world needs saving. However, Suimei, on the other hand, could not be more disinterested in everything going on— a trait he shares with the Irregular Tatsuya Shiba and is only concerned with getting home. Despite his disinterest, Suimeii has an advantage as a magician; however, he soon gets a reality check as he comes to terms with the level of magic obtainable in his new world.
2 Overlord
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.4 / 5
- Creator(s): Maruyama Kugane, So-Bin
- No. Of Volumes: 16
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
Overlord features the world of Yggdrasil, a virtual reality game famous for the freedom it gives its players in terms of accessibility and customization. However, after several years of operation, the game is scheduled to end in 2138. The series’ central character, Momonga, a devoted player, decides to spend the remaining time for the game in his guild, Ainz Ooal Gown. However, things take a different turn when Momonga is strangely not logged out by the game at the close of the game, and somehow, he has been transported to the world of the game.
Now, trapped in the skeletal body of his in-game avatar, Momonga has become something of an oddity, just like the titular series’ protagonist. However, Momonga might be too adept at magic usage, unlike Tatsuya, making him nigh-omnipotent in his new world. Still reeling from the apparent truth of his sudden reality, Momonga sets out to find a way back to his world and, at the same time, take control of his new world with the aid of his loyal subordinates.
1 Knights and Magic
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.1 / 5
- Creator(s): Amazake-no Hisago, Katou Takuji
- No. Of Volumes: 11
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
Knight’s and Magic presents a world of magic and technology, much like the titular series, even though the series takes an isekai approach to its events. The story is centered on the genius software engineer and programmer Kurata Tsubasa, who, like Tatsuya Shiba, is fascinated with mechanical technology, which later turns into magical technology. Kurata’s life is thrown off the rails when he is reincarnated into a world of magic and robotic giants.
However, Kurata is not worried in the slightest. Reincarnated as Ernesti Echevalier, Kurata sets his sights on spending the rest of his new life creating these magical pieces of mecha technology. Ernesti, however, now faces a huge obstacle: Owning his magical mecha robot. Relying on his imagination and the resources of his new world, Ernesti sets out to achieve his goal.
Leave a Reply