15: Unforgettable Book Worlds That Have Sparked My Creativity and Influenced My Own Worldbuilding
- Renee Ella
- Sep 1, 2025
- 4 min read
Some people read for the romance. Others for the drama.
Me? I’m in it for the attention to detail in the worldbuilding.
Give me the timber used on the dining table, the colours and pattern of the heirloom rug, every portrait hanging on the wall - who painted them and what oils they used. I live for the rich detail that transforms a fictional setting into a place that feels real.
While the golden rule is show, don’t tell, I’m quite happy to devour pages of lore, history, geography, trade routes, and magical systems.
So today, I’m sharing three of the most immersive book worlds I’ve ever escaped into.
Plus, a few close contenders I had to mention.
The Known World — Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
What I’d give to hike the rolling hills of Terrasen, study at the Torre Cesme, or catch a glimpse of the Ruks in the Tavan Mountains.
The Known World (Erilea, the Southern Continent, and the Eastern Continent) is tied as one of my favourite fictional places. A continent ruled by a tyrant king and laced with shifting alliances, power struggles, and magical lore. It satisfies my love of a rich political and historical landscape.
I truly fell in love with the world in Heir of Fire, during Celaena’s escape into the wild jungle of Doranelle and the terrifying pursuit that followed.
While there are some elements (like the gods and goddesses) that still confuse me a little, the world is vast, whimsical, and wonderfully layered. Each book peels back another layer of magic, myth, and mystery.
The Wizarding World — Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
It’s a no-brainer. And tied for first as my favourite world to escape into.
From letters that arrive by owl post, to flying on broomsticks and the sport of Quidditch. From Diagon Alley where wands pick the wizard and to getting to swish that wand in charms class at Hogwarts. Fizzing Whizzbees. Unicorns. Butter beer. Animagi. Platform 9 ¾. Grindelwald. And how this is all hidden under our oblivious muggle noses - the Wizarding World is full of charm, nostalgia, and immersive magical detail.
The detail that went into forming its history from horcruxes to the founding of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the four figure heads who founded it. The laws surrounding magic. And the creation of Azkaban if those laws are crossed in extreme. Every element feels thoughtfully placed and lived-in.
To this day, I’m still waiting for my Hogwarts letter.
The Magnificent North — Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
Confession: the storyline in OUABH wasn’t my favourite. But the world? I was obsessed.
The Hollow alone earns this series a spot on the list. It reads like a dream pulled straight from the pages of a whimsical childhood fairytale:
“The rooftop was covered in enormous cheery mushrooms with red caps that had tiny dragons dozing upon them. Then there were the flowers, so large they were the size of small children, with bright-colored petals in every shade, which seemed to perk up as the two of them arrived.”
And then there’s the inn:
“Everything about the whimsical inn inspired curiosity instead of fear. In a third-floor bathing room, Evangeline found the most delightful copper tub... It had lovely jeweled handles and a faucet that could pour out different-colored waters in a variety of scents: Pink honeysuckle. Lavender rose. Green pine needle. Silver rain. She’d mixed the rain and honeysuckle, and now she smelled like a sweet and stormy day.”
The Magnificent North is wonder and whimsy at its absolute best.
Honorable Mentions:
Middle Earth – The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien I’ve only read The Hobbit (not LOTR yet—I know!) but Rivendell, Mirkwood, and the looming darkness of the world already have me spellbound. I just know it would be in my top three if I committed to the full trilogy.
Dannemore – Sword Catcher by Cassandra ClareThe charter system in Castellane is one of the most intricate political and trade structures I’ve read. I can’t wait to explore more.
Cambria – Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross Inspired by our own world wars, this setting weaves magic into the very foundations of the world—unbreakable buildings, magically linked typewriters, and terrifying winged creatures known as the eithrals. I was truly captivated by the atmosphere of Divine Rivals.
Worlds I Can’t Wait to Explore
Scadrial (Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson)
Westeros and Essos (A Song of Ice and Fire – George R. R. Martin)
Middle Earth (The Fellowship of the Ring – J.R.R. Tolkien)
The Stillness (The Fifth Season – N.K. Jemisin)
Midgard (House of Earth and Blood – Sarah J. Maas)
Worldbuilding is the reason I read
It’s not just the plot or the romance that hooks me - it’s the worlds that feel so rich, so layered, I could live in them. The political systems. The magical laws. The textures of rugs and the scent of bathwater in whimsical inns.
If you feel the same way, The Worldbuilding Workbook was made for you.
Whether you're building a kingdom teetering on the edge of ruin, a secret society of magic-wielders, or a whimsical land bursting with miniature napping dragons on mushrooms, this workbook will guide you every step of the way. With over 300 prompts, creative exercises, and detailed templates for magical systems, mythical creatures, and political constructs, this is your map to the immersive world that’s waiting inside you.
Create a world your readers long to return to day after day.
To be the first to know when The Worldbuilding Workbook goes live, be sure to put your name and email below to receive updates straight to your inbox.
Epilogue
If you love layered magical worlds, political depth, and a good dose of whimsy, add these books to your list—and please tell me which of the “Yet to Explore” worlds I should dive into first. I’m always looking for my next literary escape.
Happy Reading,
Renee Ella
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