Taika Turunen has no magic. Despite coming from a long line of powerful Finnish mages, and their name literally meaning magic, Taika can’t perform the simplest of spells.
Forced to attend Myrskyjärvi International School for the Magically Gifted on account of their mom being principal, Taika has a hard time fitting in. Sometimes, they wonder if not having magic has something to do with the fact they’re neither a girl nor a boy and if they’re fated to be “Taika the Talentless” forever.
Life goes from bad to worse when Natalie, Taika’s former BFF, is mysteriously absent from class, only to appear to Taika as a liekkiö, a spirit begging for their help. As more students go missing, Taika must take the lead in a race against time to save friends old and new before a powerful group of chaos mages can unleash the legendary Sampo, an artifact capable of either saving the world’s waning magic or destroying everything Taika holds dear.
To rescue Natalie, Taika will have to journey to the liminal space between worlds where they’ll be forced to battle mythical monsters and their own dwindling self-esteem. In doing so, Taika might just discover that magic—and love—comes in many different forms.
For fans of witchcraft and wizardry looking for a new, inclusive story, My Name Is Magic, is a story about finding strength from within and potential where you least expected it.
"I absolutely loved My Name Is Magic. The novel is a gripping, page-turning mystery and a wonderful, welcome addition to the Magic School subgenre. Drawing from Finnish mythology, Xan Van Rooyen creates a spellbinding setting brimming with wintry darkness and ancient sorcery while introducing a diverse cast with a marvelous non-binary main character. I found myself immediately longing for a continuation to Taika's story - in the meantime, I may just have to read My Name Is Magic again!" - Emmi Itäranta author of Memory of Water and The Moon Day Letters
"A whirlwind magic-school mystery, full of Finnish mythological lore. I adored Taika and their found family of delightfully complex misfit mages. A whimsical, edge-of-your seat adventure that navigates powerful themes of overconsumption and degrowth alongside queer adolescent challenges of bullying, unsupportive parents, and toxic thought patterns." - Sim Kern author of Seeds for the Swarm and Depart, Depart!
“Immersive, enchanting, and spellbinding! Xan van Rooyen weaves a powerful tale that's as inclusive as it is magical!” - Brooks Benjamin author of My Seventh Grade Life In Tights
“If you've been looking for a magic school fantasy that's also diverse and inclusive, My Name is Magic will give you what you need. Rich with Finnish mythology...van Rooyen gets inside the head of a misunderstood teen as they slowly realise their prejudices against others, and see their own worth. My Name is Magic perfectly captures the bittersweet emotional rollercoaster of the outsider teen, wraps it in magic, adventure, and mythology, and manages to be both dark and charming.” - Cat Hellisen author of King of the Hollow Dark
Climber, tattoo-enthusiast, peanut-butter addict and loyal shibe-minion, Xan van Rooyen is a genderqueer, non-binary storyteller from South Africa, currently living in Finland where the heavy metal is soothing and the cold, dark forests inspiring. Xan has a Master’s degree in music, and–when not teaching–enjoys conjuring strange worlds and creating quirky characters. You can find Xan’s short stories in the likes of Three-Lobed Burning Eye, Daily Science Fiction, Apparition Lit, and The Colored Lens. Xan hangs out on instagram, twitter, and facebook so feel free to say hi over there.