Memory magic isn’t something that I see very often in fantasy.
I can count on one hand the books that use this type of system, and that includes Harry Potter (the obliviate spell and Dumbledore’s pensieve).
The types of magic seen in popular fantasy novels are elemental, necromancy, divine… the usual suspects.
So if you’re looking for a creative magic system, you should definitely consider memory magic.
In this post, I’ll show you what memory magic is, the rules and costs that govern it, a few examples of it being used in fantasy, and I’ll even throw in a few memory magic prompts that might inspire you.
What is memory magic?
Memory magic is anything that has to do with altering, manipulating, creating, erasing, or reading memories.
Instead of controlling fire or summoning the dead, this kind of magic works on something much more intimate:
The mind.
Which is why it’s such an interesting magic system to begin with. It internalizes the threat instead of turning it outward.
So the danger isn’t physical damage, but the quiet possibility that someone could reach into your head and change what you think is true.
Rules of memory magic
Like any magic system, memory magic works best when it has clear limits.
Otherwise, it could become an instant fix for every plot problem.
For example, the protagonist alters the villain’s memories so they forget all about world domination. Or the opposite, where the villain alters everyone’s memories so they’re all on board with world domination.
Here are a few memory magic rules that can make it feel grounded and believable:
Memories can’t be altered perfectly
A mage might be able to blur details or remove certain pieces, but memories are tricky.
People fill in gaps.
They dream.
They reinterpret.
So even a “clean erase” might leave behind emotional residue like:
- Unexplained fear
- Phantom grief
- Déjà vu
- Instincts that don’t match the new reality
Stronger emotions make stronger memories
Erasing what someone ate last night is easy because there’s no real emotional connection (I mean, I suppose there could be, but let’s say there isn’t).
But we can agree that erasing the memory of a loved one who died is much more complicated.
Emotionally charged memories might require more power, more time, or a greater cost.
Memory magic requires access
Maybe the mage has to touch the person.
Maybe they need eye contact.
Maybe the memory has to be spoken aloud first.
The more specific the requirement, the more tension you create.
You can’t erase what you don’t understand
A memory mage might not be able to remove something they can’t properly interpret.
For example, the mind of a different species (a vampire can’t alter the memories of a werewolf), an alien mind, a fragmented traumatic event, etc.
That limitation can be a goldmine for plot.
Costs of memory magic
Magic system costs are my favorite, and the ones that can be tied to memory magic are so unique.
Because the cost doesn’t have to be physical.
It can be deeply personal.
Here are a few memory magic costs you can build into your system:
The mage absorbs what they take
Every memory you pull from someone else leaves an imprint.
A memory mage might slowly lose the ability to tell which life is theirs.
Memories degrade with use
The more a mage tampers with someone’s mind, the less stable it becomes.
Too many edits, and the person starts to unravel.
Using memory magic risks self-erasure
Maybe every spell requires the mage to give up one of their own memories in exchange.
Which is a fair trade imo, and super high stakes for the user.
How to use memory magic in your novel
Memory magic works best when it’s tied directly to character and theme.
Here are a few powerful ways to weave it into your story:
Make it central to identity
If memories shape who we are, then memory magic becomes existential.
What happens to characters whose memories are heavily altered?
Do they still feel like themselves? Do they mourn things they can’t even remember losing? Do they start making choices that don’t make sense because the foundation of their life has been rewritten?
Use it for mystery
Memory magic is perfect for:
- Missing years
- Unreliable narrators
- Secret pasts
- Characters who were altered without knowing
Build emotional stakes vs. just plot stakes
Memory magic works best when it leaves damage behind. When it takes something from a character, even if the spell technically worked.
Because losing a memory, especially an important one, is like losing a piece of your life.
A character might get exactly what they wanted (for example, they asked a memory mage to erase memories of their dead brother because it’s too painful) and still feel wrong afterward, without being able to explain why.
Tie it into your worldbuilding
Think about who controls memory magic in your world.
Is it a priesthood? A royal court? A black-market guild? The government?
Or maybe it’s uncontrolled, rare, or taboo.
Either way, the existence of this magic could reshape society, and you should figure out how, exactly.
If you want help organizing and building your magic system from scratch, you might like my Magic Systems & Artifacts Workbook with built-in prompts (preview below).
Examples of memory magic in published books
As I mentioned earlier, there aren’t a ton of super mainstream fantasy novels where memory magic is a fully labeled system the way elemental magic is.
It shows up a lot, but often as amnesia, enchantment, or a plot device instead of a codified school of magic.
Nevertheless, here are a few examples of memory magic in popular works:
- Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (obliviate spell and a pensieve that holds memories)
- The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro (widespread memory loss)
- The Rook by Daniel O’Malley (no recollection of the past)
- The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip (memory spell)
It’s rare to see it fully systematized, which is exactly why it’s such a rich space to explore.
Memory magic prompts you can use
Now the fun part!
If you want to use this type of magic in your own fantasy novel, try one of these original memory magic prompts:
- A queen keeps her throne by erasing rebellions from the minds of her people.
- A mage for hire erases specific types of memories in exchange for coin.
- Someone discovers their entire childhood was implanted.
- Memory magic is illegal, but the royal family secretly depends on it.
- Every spell costs the caster one precious memory.
- A soldier returns from war with a perfect blank space where an entire year should be.
- A city’s criminals are punished not with prison, but with memory erasure.
- A rebellion’s leader is captured, but the empire doesn’t execute them. Instead, they rewrite the rebel’s memories and send them home loyal.
- A character inherits a journal filled with memories they don’t recognize, until (eventually) they realize they’re their own.
- A child is born with the ability to see other people’s memories just by touching them, and she’s hunted for it.
Key takeaways about memory magic
Here are the key takeaways from this post:
- Memory magic works best when it’s tied directly to character and theme
- The most compelling versions have clear limits and consequences
- It can reshape entire societies, not just individual lives
- And it creates some of the richest emotional stakes you can play with in fantasy
And if you want help building your own magic system from scratch — including the rules, costs, and worldbuilding around it — you’ll love my Magic Systems & Artifacts Workbook, which walks you through the process step by step (with prompts).
FAQs about memory magic in fantasy
What are the main types of memory magic in fantasy?
Memory magic can take a few different forms, from erasing memories entirely to implanting false ones, reading someone’s past, restoring lost recollections, or even trapping a person inside a specific memory. The best systems usually specialize rather than doing everything at once.
What are some common memory magic spells in fantasy stories?
The most common memory spells involve forgetting, rewriting identity, extracting secrets, or sealing away traumatic events. Some stories treat memory magic as a rare forbidden art, while others build entire magical institutions around it.
Is memory magic the same as mind magic in fantasy?
Not exactly. Mind magic is a broader category that can include telepathy, illusions, emotion control, or domination. Memory magic is more specific: it deals with altering the past as someone remembers it, which makes it especially personal and dangerous.
Can memory magic be used as a superpower instead of a spell system?
Definitely. In some fantasy worlds, memory magic shows up more like an ability than a learned discipline. For example, a character who can see memories through touch, erase themselves from someone’s mind, or restore what others have lost.
How do you write memory magic without making it overpowered?
The key is limitation. Memory magic becomes believable when it has costs, boundaries, and consequences. A mage shouldn’t be able to rewrite anyone’s entire life instantly, and even when a memory is changed, the emotional fallout should remain.
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