If you have finished Mother of Learning and find yourself quite bereft—wandering about with that peculiar emptiness one feels after leaving behind a particularly splendid adventure—then take heart, dear reader. For there exist other magical doorways waiting to be opened, other heroes yearning to grow stronger beneath your watchful eye.
Zorian’s magnificent journey through time has concluded, but yours need not. Here are eleven remarkable books that shall fill that space in your heart where Mother of Learning once dwelt.
Time Loop Tales to Rival Zorian’s Journey
The Perfect Run by Maxime J. Durand
Imagine, if you will, a time loop set not in a magical academy but in the neon-drenched ruins of future Italy. Ryan Romano—who calls himself Quicksave—possesses the ability to create save points in his life and restart whenever death claims him. He has done this for so terribly, wonderfully long that his sanity has become, shall we say, creatively flexible.
The wit here sparkles like starlight on water, and the mystery unfolds in layers that would make even the cleverest reader gasp with delight.
The Years of Apocalypse by UraniumPhoenix
Mirian Castrella finds herself trapped in time much as Zorian did—a student at a magical academy, suddenly caught in an unending cycle when war erupts. Yet this tale walks a darker path through different woods. Where Zorian found companionship, Mirian often walks alone, and where his world was bright with possibility, hers shivers with eldritch shadows.
For those who loved Mother of Learning’s structure but hunger for grimmer fare, this awaits.
The Menocht Loop by Lorne Ryburn
Here is something altogether different—a time loop tale where our protagonist is not a struggling student but an arch-necromancer of devastating power. Ian Dunai has already conquered cities with a thought, yet even his command over death cannot free him from time’s peculiar prison.
The magic system of twelve affinities offers delicious complexity for readers who adored Zorian’s methodical mastery.
Progression Fantasy Masterworks
Cradle by Will Wight
This is the series that sits upon the throne of progression fantasy, and rightfully so. Lindon begins as an Unsouled—forbidden to learn the sacred arts of his clan, considered worthless by all who know him. But oh, how he climbs! From Copper through Gold and far beyond, his rise is the stuff of legend.
The sacred arts magic system rewards careful attention, and Lindon’s partnership with the fierce Yerin provides endless delight.
Mage Errant by John Bierce
Hugh of Emblin believes himself the worst student his academy has ever suffered to teach. His spells fail spectacularly and often explosively. When a wonderfully eccentric mage named Alustin selects him as apprentice, everything changes. Hugh’s magical affinities are unusual—dreamfire and crystal and paper—and watching him grow is pure joy.
The warmth of friendship here glows like a hearth fire on a cold winter’s evening.
Iron Prince by Bryce O’Connor and Luke Chmilenko
Now we venture into the stars, where the future has bred warriors bonded with Combat Assistance Devices—alien technology that grows alongside its bearer. Reidon Ward begins with the worst specs imaginable, born sickly and abandoned. His CAD has infinite potential for growth, and watching that potential unfold across over a thousand pages is magnificent.
This is progression fantasy wearing science fiction’s clothes, and it wears them splendidly.
Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe
Corin Cadence enters the Serpent Spire seeking his missing brother, but first he must survive the tower’s trials to earn an attunement—a magical mark that grants power. What follows blends dungeon crawling with magic school intrigue in the most delectable fashion. Corin’s analytical mind and careful approach to magic will feel wonderfully familiar to Zorian’s admirers.
The attunement system offers depths to explore that seem almost inexhaustible.
Cultivation Classics
A Thousand Li by Tao Wong
Long Wu Ying is a peasant farmer when we meet him—conscripted into war and far from home. A chance observation saves his unit from ambush and earns him a place at the prestigious Verdant Green Waters sect. This series is a love letter to classical wuxia, written for Western readers who have never ventured into cultivation novels.
The path to immortality unfolds with patience and beauty here.
Street Cultivation by Sarah Lin
What becomes of cultivation in our modern world? Sarah Lin answers brilliantly. In her vision, qi is money—power controlled by corporations and governments, leaving those at the bottom struggling as second-class citizens. Rick doesn’t dream of immortality. He simply wants to build a better life for himself and his spiritually ill sister.
This is cultivation fantasy grounded in gritty reality, and it is wonderful.
Beware of Chicken by Casualfarmer
Jin finds himself transported into a cultivation world and makes a sensible decision—he refuses to play the game. Instead of climbing the ranks through deadly battles, he retires to farm peacefully. Except peace has a way of finding trouble, and his farm animals begin to cultivate alongside him.
This is cultivation parody wrapped in genuine heart, with rooster disciples and pig philosophers.
Superhero Academy Adventures
Super Powereds by Drew Hayes
In this world, some are born Super—able to control their abilities—while others are Powered, their gifts wild and uncontrollable. Five young Powereds undergo an experimental procedure that transforms them into Supers, then enroll in Lander University’s Hero Certification Program. Over four massive books, we watch them grow from uncertain freshmen into something remarkable.
The progression through school years mirrors Mother of Learning’s academy setting beautifully.
Finding Your Next Great Read
Mother of Learning gave us the joy of watching Zorian grow from an antisocial student into a master mage across countless loops. Each book here offers that same essential pleasure—the satisfaction of seeing characters earn their power through cleverness, persistence, and heart.
Whether you choose the time-bending adventures of The Perfect Run and The Menocht Loop, the cultivation paths of Cradle and A Thousand Li, or the academy settings of Mage Errant and Super Powereds, you shall find companions worthy of the journey Zorian began.
The loop may have ended, but the adventure continues. All you must do is turn the page.
