Welcome, travelers!
Lately, I discovered I liked a special sub-genre of fantasy: bureaumancy.
What’s that thing, you ask? Well, traveler, bureaumancy is a mix between magical worlds and the joy of bureaucracy. Novels from that genre usually have an almighty organization (but not necessarily evil), with lots of rules and regulations, paperwork, and characters working behind a desk — anonymous cogs in a huge machine.
I wanted to do a rec list and compile several books from that genre, but sadly, my researches haven’t been successful… Bureaumancy isn’t a very popular genre, and I haven’t found many books. But I still wanted to write about this genre, so here is a small, tiny list!

lgbt+ rep 🌈
poc rep ✊
disability rep 🤝
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Disclaimer: I haven’t read all of these books, only those marked with an asterisk.
If I get it wrong somewhere, first of all, I’m sorry, and please notify me.




🌈 the house in the cerulean sea* – t.j. klune
🌈✊ a dead djinn in cairo* – p. djèlí clark
🌈 a marvelous light – freya marske
🌈✊ the watchmaker of filigree street – natasha pulley

Do you know any books with magical bureaucracy?
What’s your favorite fantasy subgenre?

Hi Ursa,
This subgenre seems really interesting. Now I have to do some research on it😍
To answer your question, my favourite Fantasy subgenre is YA. What’s yours?
J’aimeAimé par 1 personne
thank you for the recs! i have not heard of this special sub-genre before but it sounds intriguing! i’m especially excited to check out the house in the cerulean sea!
J’aimeAimé par 1 personne
Yeah its not really popular but it has such potential!
J’aimeAimé par 1 personne
Ooo this is so interesting and so creative Ursa! Very cool post!
J’aimeAimé par 1 personne
Thank you 😊🥰
J’aimeAimé par 1 personne
This is the first time I’ve heard of bureaumancy – that’s an interesting list, although I haven’t read any of them!
J’aimeAimé par 1 personne
I had no idea this was considered a sub-genre! But, I can totally see The House in the Cerulean Sea being part of it.
J’aimeAimé par 1 personne
Right? This book is actually the one that introduced me to this genre!
J’aimeJ’aime