A world in which you can only acquire specific magic by performing very challenging (and unknown/dangerous) rituals.
Could be quite fun. Because it means that, while reading, you can discover how the magic works naturally, and watch as the characters actually invent magic and its possibilities in the first place. It also feels like all powers are truly “earned” for everyone.
COMBINE WITH: Some world in which marks are left on the body/skin following specific rules or situations. These might mark you as having mastered or invented some magic, or say something about your future (if you’re born with them?), or the mark might actually GIVE you strength. (That’s why people usually hide all their marks beneath their clothes or accessoires.)
This would be a great MARKETING tagline for the book. (Obviously also make it true in the book itself)
“In the lands of Sarva, you either become the Chosen One, or you die.”
This is a possible idea to make this work. (Great, unique worldbuilding—windbuilding :p—with clear consequences and dangers all the time.)
- Their entire world has windmills, everywhere, literally everywhere.
- Their cities and homes are built inside/on top of the windmills.
- They did this to get “free” electricity forever, which makes their society really powerful and modern (especially in fantasy terms).
- The downside, of course, is that it’s incredibly dangerous to live there all the time. (People falling into the blades, being blown off, things breaking and taking an entire city with it, etcetera.)
If it doesn’t fit here, then surely put it somewhere else.
Could this be Romantasy?