Whether you’ve decided to ditch the works of J.K. Rowling due to her ongoing controversies, or you merely loved the Harry Potter series and want to read something similar – there are plenty of books like Harry Potter out there for you to enjoy.
Books Like Harry Potter: Your Next Magical Read
This list isn’t exhaustive, but it does capture some of the best series that deserve their turn in the spotlight. The right one for you will depend on a few things: First of all, what aspect of Harry Potter are you trying to capture in a new series?
Some of these books are magical YA fantasy epics that immerse you in a magical world of their own. Others might hit the same beats of Harry Potter but skip on the magic. It doesn’t matter if you crave adventure, friendship, or magic; there’s something out there for everyone.
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Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Rick Riordan is the quintessential fantasy author for this generation of kids. Most of his books are around a middle-grade level, but like Harry Potter, they can be enjoyed by any age. This boxed set is the debut series that follows the trials of Percy Jackson – the son of Greek god Poseidon – as he embarks on a quest to save the Olympians.
Genres: Middle-grade fiction, fantasy
Frank Herbert’s Dune Saga
Dune’s found itself back into pop culture with the new movie coming out. Of course, science fiction and fantasy fans don’t always cross over, but they often do. So if you’re looking for adventure and imagination in a world that feels alive – Dune is for you.
Genres: Young adult fiction, science fiction
Warriors Series
This series is so unique that you can’t help being drawn in. Clans of warrior cats fight, sometimes quite violently, to hunt prey and control land. It’s a mix of fantasy, adventure, and “coming of age” that give off Harry Potter vibes while being completely different.
Genres: Young adult fiction, fantasy
Discworld Series
If you want a series that offers a seemingly never-ending supply of books (41, to be exact), Discworld has you covered. There are so many reasons to enjoy this series of books: a fantasy satire. There’s magic, adventure, and plenty of laughs – but it has the same “fish out of water” feeling Harry Potter gives you as you explore Discworld through a tourist’s eyes.
Genres: Young adult fiction, fantasy, comedy/satire
The Maze Runner Series
Books aren’t gendered, but Maze Runner is a great series to get them reading if you want something that appeals to teenage boys. A boy wakes up without his memory inside an ever-changing maze – one that no one’s ever escaped from. If you like Harry Potter for the “hero’s journey” type story, you’ll enjoy Maze Runner.
Genres: Young adult fiction, dystopian sci-fi
Earthsea Cycle Set
You can’t have a list of books like Harry Potter without the magical Earthsea series. If you haven’t heard of it, the first book in this series (published in 1968) did the whole “magical kid from a regular family goes to a wizard school” decades before Harry Potter came out.
Genres: It was originally young adult fiction but became popular with adults too, fantasy.
Outlander
Outlander is one of those fantasy series that everyone in the fantasy community knows about but isn’t always part of mainstream discussion. At least until the series came out, anyway, while it’s not for kids, Outlander is an excellent read for adults who are looking for an exciting and immersive fantasy-romance story.
Genres: Adult fiction, fantasy, romance
The Lord of the Rings
This series needs no introduction, but if you haven’t read it and are craving a fantasy adventure, now is the time to check out the Lord of the Rings. It’s one of those series that is true for all ages – with middle-grade kids through adults being able to enjoy it in their own ways.
Genres: The Hobbit was originally created as a book for kids, but the series grew into an all-ages work, fantasy
The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
This is like a side story to Harry Potter, but not really. A character named Nicholas Flamel does appear in Harry Potter, and both him and the hero of this book are based on the same source: a real person that actually existed. The author does admit to being inspired by Harry Potter, though.
Genres: Young adult fiction, fantasy
The Sword of Truth
The Sword of Truth series is written by acclaimed fantasy author Terry Goodkind. It’s a little more grown-up than Harry Potter (aimed at adults) but still follows a group of protagonists trying to save the world from evil oppressors. Oh, and there’s magic.
Genres: Adult fiction, fantasy
The Chronicles of Narnia
This classic series has been in print for nearly 70 years and continues to capture the imagination of kids and adults alike. It’s full of magic, unique characters, and ordinary kids going on adventures; it’s perfect for kids who are too young for Harry Potter or as a family read.
Genres: Children’s/middle grade fiction, fantasy
Wheel of Time
Another series that was recently turned into a TV show, the Wheel of Time, is a long-running high fantasy series that does an excellent job of immersing you with its world-building. If you want something character-driven and magical, but that’s written more for adults than kids, the Wheel of Time is an excellent series for adult Harry Potter fans.
Genres: Adult fiction, high fantasy
The Shadow and Bone Trilogy
You might have heard about the Shadow and Bone trilogy thanks to its popularity on BookTok (Tiktok’s reading community). While it’s published as a YA series, Shadow and Bone seems to be popular with adults too. In addition, the magical fantasy story is told through a female protagonist, something Harry Potter is missing out on.
Genres: Young adult fiction, fantasy
Howl’s Moving Castle
Seeing the movie doesn’t come close to doing this series justice, especially when it leaves out the second and third books. Howl’s Moving Castle tells the story of Sophie, a young girl who becomes transformed into an old woman by an evil witch, who finds herself working as a cleaning lady for the sorcerer Howl. Full of whimsy, it’s a light-hearted read for anyone who enjoys magic.
Genres: Young adult fiction, fantasy
His Dark Materials
The TV series is good, but the books are always better. You might be more familiar with the first book in The Golden Compass series. Either way, it tells the story of two ordinary children on an extraordinary journey, one where they meet witches, armored bears, and other magical creatures. If that’s not enough, it also joins the Harry Potter series in the list of banned and challenged kids’ books.
Genres: Middle-grade fiction, fantasy
A Series of Unfortunate Events
For kids who like the grim aspects of Harry Potter, a Series of Unfortunate Events also stars orphaned children who are making their way through the world. The books are shorter and less action-oriented than Harry Potter, but it makes up for that with dark humor and gothic-satire storytelling – there’s still plenty of whimsey for the magic fan, though.
Genres: Middle-grade fiction, satire
Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children
When the first book in this series came out, it was described as “the next Harry Potter,” It lives up to those expectations even today. A group of children with extraordinary powers goes on an adventure to cure their headmistress, Miss Peregrine, of a mysterious ailment.
Genres: Young adult fiction, fantasy
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Aimed at early chapter book readers, the Spiderwick Chronicles follows nine-year-old twins and their 13-year-old sister as they discover there’s a magical world of fairies they never knew existed. This is a great first-read for young fantasy lovers, with the same feelings of magical discovery that you find in the Harry Potter series.
Genres: Children’s fiction, fantasy
Inkheart
Book one in the Inkheart trilogy it’s about a 12-year-old girl who brings a fantasy world out of a book and into real life. The pacing can be a bit long (partially because it is a translated work), but if you love magic and books, then Inkheart blends them perfectly.
Genres: Middle-grade fiction, fantasy
The Inheritance Games
Classic series are popular for a reason, but sometimes you just need something new. The Inheritance Games is a new-ish trilogy (book three is set to release in August 2022) that is taking the YA world by storm. A typical high school kid, Avery is left a large fortune by someone she’s never met. While it’s not fantasy, the puzzles, riddles, and adventures that Avery goes through sucks you in just like you might feel reading Harry Potter for the first time.
Genres: Young adult, mystery, thriller
Books Like Harry Potter
Harry Potter might have captured the imagination of millions, but there are plenty of books out there that are like Harry Potter – some of them even better than the series. As it moves away from being the go-to series for kids to read (just like Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia fell out of popularity), it’s a good idea to explore some of the newer options out there.
Who knows, you just might find your next favorite book.
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A Dime Saved
Hi! I am a millennial mom with a passion for personal finance. I have always been “into” personal finance but got inspired to start my blog after a period of extended unemployment. That experience really changed the way I viewed my relationship with money and the importance of accessible personal finance education.