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The Geomagician

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The Geomagician

Written by: Jennifer Mandula
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
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Buy Now for ₹749.80

Buy Now for ₹749.80

Brought to you by Penguin.

When a Victorian fossil hunter discovers a baby pterodactyl, she vows to protect him with the help of a fellow scholar – her former fiancé – in this enchanting and transporting historical fantasy. Perfect for fans of Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries and A Natural History of Dragons

Mary Anning wants to be a geomagician – a paleontologist who uses fossils to wield magic – but since the Geomagical Society of London refuses to admit women, she’s stuck selling her discoveries to tourists instead. Then an ancient egg hatches in her hands, revealing a loveable baby pterodactyl Mary names Ajax, and she knows that this is the kind of scientific find that could make her career – if she’s strategic.

But when Mary contacts the Society about her discovery, they demand to take possession of Ajax. Their emissary is none other than Henry Stanton, a distinguished (and infuriatingly handsome) scholar... and the man who once broke Mary’s heart. She knows she can't trust her fellow scholars, who want to discredit her and claim Ajax for their own, but Henry insists he believes in the brilliant Mary, and only wants to help her obtain the respect she deserves.

Now Mary has a new mystery to solve that's buried deeper than any dinosaur skeleton: She must uncover the secrets behind the Society and the truth about Henry. As her conscience begins to chafe against her ambition, Mary must decide what lengths she’s willing to go to finally belong – and what her heart really wants.

© Jennifer Mandula 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

 Animals Fantasy Genre Fiction Historical Historical Romance Victorian
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Critic Reviews

The Geomagician is a delightful book, scholarly and clever but still full of heart. Jennifer Mandula has created a world so vivid and fully realized that it almost breathes, with a complex interweaving of politics, science, religion, and class. Full of wonder and magic, the story will hold onto your imagination even after you've turned the last page. Five baby pterodactyls out of five.
Mary Anning, magic, politics, and a pterodactyl - with this intriguing mix, this delightful and clever book provides definitive proof that Victorian England needed more dinosaurs!
Jennifer Mandula's The Geomagician is a magical story with my favorite sort of heroine - intelligent and strong but with a tender heart. Come for the enchanting writing. Stay for the baby pterodactyl!
The Geomagician is an absolute joy of a historical fantasy that feels truly fresh and new. The worldbuilding is so clever, vivid, and fully realized, but it’s the characters that really make this book shine - real, flawed, lovable people with complex relationships that you can root for. There’s magic, romance, political machinations, dinosaurs…what more do you need? I loved this book - Jennifer Mandula is an author to watch.
A richly imagined world of fossil hunters, magic and scholars, this tale is a delightful twist on Mary Anning and her discoveries on the Jurassic coast. Deftly plotted with a truly unique feel, Mandula has created a triumphant blend of palaeontology and magic with a vibrant cast of characters you will love.
Mary is a compelling protagonist… ‘The Geomagician’—whose treatment of the friction between faith and science calls to mind Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy—is a thoughtful reimagining of history that spotlights an overlooked trailblazer.
Mandula’s debut novel blends political machinations, paleontology, faith, magic, and a bit of romance in a richly drawn Victorian setting…This well-imagined fantasy debut will appeal to fans of Marie Brennan and Heather Fawcett.
Fans of cozy and historical fantasy and those who enjoy tales of women scientists of history, or any fantasy readers ready to be enchanted by a cute little former fossil named Ajax, will enjoy this read.
Packed with historical details and layered with emotion (not to mention amusing pterodactyl encounters), The Geomagician is an entertaining fantasy with big questions at its heart.
Set in Victorian England, Mandula’s charming debut introduces an impoverished female fossil hunter who fights to gain entry to London’s upper-crust, all-male Geomagical Society… Mandula does a good job capturing the magic and snobbery of this alternate England. Readers in the mood for cozy historical fantasy should check this out.
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