Magical & Musical | Ten Songs That Should Be Adapted Into Fantasy Novels (#WyrdAndWonder)

Hello, dear friends, and welcome back to another Wyrd & Wonder 2023 post! I saw this past Sunday that there was a Wyrd & Wonder/Sunday Fives prompt going around (starting with this post from Annemieke) about “songs that make you think of fantasy books,” and I thought I’d put my own spin on the prompt! Instead of recommending songs that remind me of books, I want to recommend songs that I think could easily be turned into full length novels in their own right! So let’s get right to it!

“paradise” by coldplay

In the night the stormy night she’d close her eyes
In the night the stormy night away she’d fly

“Paradise” by Coldplay

I can totally see this being adapted into a story along the lines of Peter Pan. Definitely would work as a good portal fantasy. I’m thinking…something like…a young girl running from her problems falls into a magical land where she must become a brave heroine who confronts those problems headfirst.

“i did something bad” by taylor swift

They’re burning all the witches even if you aren’t one

“I Did Something Bad” by Taylor Swift

I think this song would make an AMAZING backstory for a villainous female main character! Here’s what I’m thinking…A woman has magic, but must hide it because magic users are persecuted. One day she’s falsely accused of being a witch, so she must run away…but she finds hersef taking refuge with a group of witches helbent on revenge, and she starts to learn magic with them. Eventually, she becomes a powerful witch and leads a rebellion against the kingdom persecuting witches, who view her as an ultimate “villain.”

“young god” by halsey

He says, “Ooh, baby girl, you know we’re gonna be legends
I’m the king, and you’re the queen, and we will stumble through heaven…”

“Young God” by Halsey

Honestly, Badlands (the album this song is off of) is, like, Premium SFF Novel Inspiration™, so I just knew had to choose a song off of it, it was just a question of hich one! I ended up going with “Young God” since I think it has really interesting and more unique story potential. I see this song becoming a story about a young couple who are gods banished from their heavenly realm and who come to fight demons on earth and end up becoming heroes.

“bury a friend” by billie eilish

When we all fall asleep, where do we go?

“bury a friend” by Billie Eilish

Between the title, the lyrics, and the general musical vibe, this song could definitely be an amazing horror fantasy. I’m imagining a girl goes into a nightmare realm to save her best friend only to discover that that very friend is actually a demon native to the nightmare realm who’s lured the girl there as a sacrifice.

“eat your young” by hozier

I’m starving, darling
Let me put my lips to something
Let me wrap my teeth around the world

“Eat Your Young” by Hozier

Particularly the above lyrics have me imagining a dark, ambitious, lusty fantasy romance. Maybe two villains going enemies-to-lovers and uniting to take over a fantasy kingdom.

“desperado” by rihanna

Desperado
Sitting in a old Monte Carlo
A man whose heart is hollow, uh
Take it easy
I’m not tryna go against you
Actually, I’m going withcha

“Desperado” by Rihanna

Okay, maybe this is the obvious route, but this song would have to be a Western-inspired fantasy about a gang of magical outlaws!

“the fruits” by paris paloma

My love, are you the devil?
I would worship you instead of him
I have no time for confession
For I’m too busy committing sins

“The Fruits” by Paris Paloma

So, for this I’m picturing a story that’s like a mashup of this song and a genderbent “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Maybe a young woman in the 1800s makes a bargain with the Devil, but he finds himself falling for her when she’s clever enough to outwit him?

“madness” by ruelle

Cut me deep, the secrets and lies
Storm in the quiet

“Madness” by Ruelle

A lot of Ruelle’s songs are great story fodder, both in terms of lyrics and general musical vibes, but this one sounds the most “epic” to me. For this song, I imagine a young magic practitioner, who must learn to harness and channel their magic or risk being driven mad by it.

“seven devils” by florence + the machine

Holy water cannot help you now
Thousand armies couldn’t keep me out
I don’t want your money
I don’t want your crown
See, I’ve come to burn your kingdom down

“Seven Devils” by Florence + The Machine

Ceremonials by Florence + The Machine is another album that is ✨peak fantasy novel inspiration vibes✨, but I think “Seven Devils” is the peak of this peak! I can totally see “Seven Devils” turning into a novel about an exiled princess returning to get revenge on her enemies!

“habibi” by tamino

Something hides in every night
Brings desire from the deep
And with it comes a burning light
To keep us from our sleep

“Habibi” by Tamino

Alright, fantasy romance fans, your moment has come! This song could absolutely be a Middle Eastern inspired fantasy romance! Now, I know many of your minds may go to Shahrazad, but I think that story’s been done a lot recently, so maybe something totally new? Maybe…a man falls in love with the night herself, and they have to figure out how to be together since every morning she disappears!

So, friends, that’s that for today! I hope you enjoyed my selection and the story ideas they spawned. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll even take the plunge and develop these ideas into a full blown novel or two! But for now, I have other stories I’m dreaming up and developing, along with many, many books to read😉 Speaking of which, if you’ll excuse me, I have a good book and a cup of chai waiting for me right now! Until next time, dear friends…

spill the beans, friends!

• What songs do you think would make great fantasy novels?
• What songs remind you of specific fantasy books?
• If you enjoy creative writing, what are some songs on your playlist for your current WIP?

Learn more the author of this post:

Lila @ Hardcover Haven

Lila is a 30 year old anthropology student and lover of literature who's been book blogging for an eternity. Her hobbies include reading, singing, writing, arts and crafts, and snuggling her two cats, Snoopy and Clementine.