The 10 Best Books Like Harry Potter, Ranked From Good to Unmissable
Few book series have created a reading experience quite like Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling’s seven-book story combines a magical school, a tightly connected cast, ancient prophecies, eccentric teachers, comic relief, terrifying villains and the emotional pull of a found family. The official Harry Potter series remains structured around Harry’s seven years at Hogwarts, giving the story a clear coming-of-age journey from childhood to adulthood. Bloomsbury’s official series guide lists the novels in their original reading order.
So what should you read next?
The books on this list do not all copy Harry Potter. Some feature magical schools, while others offer secret societies, mythological quests, parallel worlds or young heroes discovering that their ordinary lives are anything but ordinary. The best choices capture at least one of the qualities that made Hogwarts so compelling: immersive world-building, memorable friendships, escalating danger, humor, wonder or the feeling that a much larger world is waiting just beyond the familiar one.
This ranking considers overall quality, similarity to Harry Potter, character development, magical world-building, emotional payoff and how strongly each book works for fans looking for their next fantasy obsession. Because the list includes middle-grade, young adult and adult fantasy, age and tone are noted throughout.
If you are looking for more magical reading recommendations, That Love Podcast’s review of Blood at the Root is also worth exploring. Its magical-school setting and questions about identity make it a particularly interesting choice for readers who have outgrown Hogwarts but still want fantasy with emotional depth.
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How We Ranked These Books
The ranking combines similarity and quality. A book did not need to feature wizards or a school to qualify. Instead, the strongest entries offer something Harry Potter fans often love: a secret magical world, a young protagonist with a complicated destiny, a close-knit group of friends, a sense of discovery and a story that becomes more ambitious as it unfolds.
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Before magical boarding schools became one of fantasy’s most recognizable settings, Jill Murphy introduced readers to Mildred Hubble, the accident-prone student at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches.
Mildred is not a naturally gifted chosen one. She is forgetful, anxious and frequently responsible for spectacular magical disasters. That makes her a refreshing alternative to the effortlessly talented fantasy hero. Her struggles with schoolwork, friendships and an intimidating classmate give the series a warm, everyday quality that will feel familiar to younger Harry Potter readers.
The books are much lighter and more humorous than Rowling’s later novels, but they share the appeal of watching a young character grow inside a strange and highly structured magical institution. There are teachers, lessons, rivalries, school traditions and plenty of opportunities for spells to go wrong.
The Worst Witch ranks tenth because it lacks the sweeping mythology and emotional complexity of the books higher on this list. Still, it is a charming choice for children who want a gentle magical-school story without the darker violence of later fantasy series.
Best for: Younger readers, school stories and classic witchcraft adventures.
What if every fairy-tale hero and villain were trained at rival schools?
That is the central idea behind Soman Chainani’s The School for Good and Evil, a fantasy series about Sophie and Agatha, two girls whose lives are unexpectedly divided between schools preparing students to become heroes or villains.
The premise gives the series an immediate appeal for Harry Potter fans. There are classes, dormitories, magical teachers, rivalries and a tightly controlled school system. However, Chainani’s story is more interested in questioning the categories that fantasy worlds often take for granted. What makes someone good? Can a villain change? Are appearances reliable? Is friendship stronger than destiny?
The friendship between Sophie and Agatha provides the emotional center. Their relationship is often messy, competitive and painful, but it gives the series more substance than a simple battle between light and darkness.
This is a more fairy-tale-driven story than Harry Potter, with exaggerated characters and a deliberately theatrical atmosphere. It is best suited to readers who enjoy magic mixed with moral reversals, elaborate costumes and stories about identity.
Best for: Middle-grade readers who enjoy fairy tales, magical schools and complicated friendships.
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Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl offers one of the most entertaining alternatives to the traditional heroic fantasy story. Its protagonist is not a brave young wizard trying to do the right thing. Artemis is a twelve-year-old criminal mastermind who discovers that fairies are real and attempts to exploit their existence.
The official Eoin Colfer series page describes Artemis as a “genius criminal mastermind,” while the Penguin Random House edition emphasizes the series’ mixture of myth, modern technology, magic and crime.
That combination is what makes the book stand out. Instead of castles and traditional spellbooks, Colfer presents an underground fairy civilization equipped with advanced technology, surveillance and its own military force. The result is fast, funny and packed with inventive ideas.
Fans of Harry Potter may especially enjoy the contrast between the ordinary human world and the hidden supernatural society beneath it. The series also develops a strong ensemble cast, including fairy officer Holly Short and bodyguard Butler.
Artemis Fowl ranks eighth because Artemis is intentionally difficult to admire at first. The series becomes richer as he develops, but readers looking for an immediately sympathetic hero may prefer the books higher on the list.
Best for: Readers who want magic, humor, technology and an antihero.
For readers who loved Hogwarts but always wanted the school to be genuinely terrifying, Naomi Novik’s A Deadly Education is an excellent choice.
The novel takes place at the Scholomance, a magical school built to protect young wizards from monsters called maleficaria. Unfortunately, the school itself is filled with deadly dangers. Students must learn to survive creatures, rivalries, magical politics and an education system where graduation is far from guaranteed.
The official Penguin Random House description highlights the Scholomance’s dangerous environment and the book’s focus on friendship, survival and relentless threats.
El Higgins, the protagonist, is an especially interesting variation on the fantasy-school hero. She has enormous magical potential and a prophecy suggesting she could become a destroyer. The tension comes from whether she can choose what to do with that power.
This is not a recommendation for younger children. The novel is darker, more cynical and aimed at older teens and adults. Its humor is sharp, its magic system is unusually detailed and its school setting is far more hostile than Hogwarts.
Best for: Older teens and adults who want a darker, more dangerous magical-school story.
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Known as Northern Lights in the United Kingdom, The Golden Compass begins Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. It follows Lyra Belacqua, a clever and rebellious girl living in a world where every person has a visible animal companion called a daemon.
The book is not a direct substitute for Harry Potter, but it shares the sense of wonder that comes from gradually uncovering the truth about an apparently familiar world. Lyra’s journey takes her from the protected environment of Jordan College into a far larger conflict involving parallel universes, mysterious forces and questions about authority.
Time included The Golden Compass among its recommended magical books for Harry Potter readers, alongside works such as The Magicians and The Lightning Thief. Read the full recommendation list here.
Pullman’s writing is more philosophical than Rowling’s, and the trilogy asks more complicated questions about religion, free will, knowledge and growing up. It can also be emotionally heavier than many middle-grade fantasy books.
The Golden Compass ranks sixth because it provides a powerful sense of discovery and a remarkable fantasy world, even though its tone and structure are less school-centered.
Best for: Readers ready for adventurous, ambitious and more philosophical fantasy.
C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is one of the essential classics of children’s fantasy. The story follows four siblings who enter the magical land of Narnia through a wardrobe and become involved in a battle against the White Witch.
Like Harry Potter, the book presents a hidden world existing alongside ordinary life. The Pevensie children begin as outsiders, but they gradually learn the rules, history and dangers of Narnia. They encounter talking animals, enchanted landscapes, ancient prophecies and a conflict much larger than they initially understand.
The novel is also an important influence on the fantasy tradition that followed it. HarperReach’s publisher listing notes the story’s enduring place in children’s literature and its original publication more than seventy years ago.
Narnia is more allegorical and episodic than Harry Potter, with less emphasis on school life and long-term character development. Nevertheless, its combination of ordinary children, secret passageways and a fully realized magical realm makes it an obvious recommendation.
Best for: Families, younger readers and anyone who enjoys classic portal fantasy.
Jessica Townsend’s Nevermoor may be the closest modern fantasy series to capturing the atmosphere of arriving at a magical world for the first time.
Morrigan Crow is a cursed child blamed for the misfortunes that happen around her. Her life changes when the mysterious Jupiter North rescues her and takes her to Nevermoor, where she must compete in a series of impossible trials to join the Wundrous Society.
The official Hachette Schools description presents the novel as a story about Morrigan’s dangerous trials and her attempt to enter the Wundrous Society. The publisher’s series page also lists later books including Wundersmith, Hollowpox and Silverborn. Explore the series here.
Townsend understands the appeal of magical institutions. Nevermoor is full of eccentric adults, strange traditions, unusual talents and hidden histories. The world feels whimsical without becoming weightless, and Morrigan’s emotional journey gives the story genuine warmth.
The book ranks fourth because it offers wonder, humor, friendship and an immediately lovable protagonist. It does not yet have the cultural scale of Harry Potter, but it is one of the strongest choices for readers looking for that same feeling of stepping through a door into something extraordinary.
Best for: Middle-grade readers who want wonder, friendship and magical world-building.
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B.B. Alston’s Amari and the Night Brothers is a thrilling fantasy adventure about a girl who discovers that her missing brother was involved with a secret supernatural organization.
Amari receives a mysterious invitation to the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, where she encounters magicians, aliens, supernatural creatures and dangerous conspiracies. The official publisher description calls it an enchanting magical series and notes its bestseller status and major children’s book recognition. Penguin Random House’s book page also describes Amari’s search for her missing brother and her introduction to the Bureau.
The strongest part of the novel is Amari herself. She is brave, uncertain, determined and constantly forced to decide whom she can trust. Her journey also addresses prejudice and exclusion without losing the fun of the adventure.
Readers who loved Harry Potter will recognize the appeal of discovering a hidden magical bureaucracy, learning new rules and trying to succeed in an unfamiliar institution. Yet Amari has its own identity, with a more modern setting and a stronger focus on belonging.
Best for: Middle-grade readers who want magic, mystery, representation and a fast-moving adventure.
Lev Grossman’s The Magicians is the most adult book on this list and one of the most deliberately complicated responses to traditional fantasy.
Quentin Coldwater is a brilliant teenager who discovers that the magical world he read about in childhood may be real. He is accepted into Brakebills, a secret college for magic, where he studies alongside other gifted students. But the fantasy world he imagined is not as comforting or heroic as he expected.
The novel shares several recognizable ingredients with Harry Potter: a hidden magical institution, talented students, difficult lessons, secret histories and a portal into another world. However, Grossman explores what happens when gifted young people gain power without automatically gaining wisdom.
The book is darker, more cynical and intended for adults. Its characters make selfish decisions, its magic has consequences and its emotional concerns include depression, privilege, addiction and dissatisfaction. It is not the right follow-up for a child finishing Harry Potter, but it can be fascinating for an adult reader who wants to revisit the fantasy-school premise from a more mature perspective.
Time also includes The Magicians among its recommended books for Harry Potter fans. Read Time’s full list.
Best for: Adults who want a darker, more critical magical-school novel.
The best book to read after Harry Potter is Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief, the first novel in Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Percy Jackson is a twelve-year-old boy who discovers that the Greek gods are real and that he is connected to them in a way that changes his entire life. After Zeus’s master bolt is stolen, Percy joins a satyr and the daughter of Athena on a dangerous quest to recover it. Rick Riordan’s official book page outlines the central quest and introduces Percy’s mythological world.
The similarities to Harry Potter are strong without making the books feel repetitive. Percy enters a hidden world, learns that his family history is more complicated than he knew, finds a community of outsiders and forms a memorable trio with Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood. Camp Half-Blood also provides some of the same appeal as Hogwarts: lessons, rivalries, cabins, mentors and a place where Percy finally belongs.
What makes The Lightning Thief the strongest recommendation is its combination of humor, action and emotional clarity. Riordan turns mythology into an accessible contemporary adventure while building a series about friendship, abandonment, loyalty and identity. The official Percy Jackson series page describes the books as making Greek mythology contemporary and entertaining for a new generation.
Best for: Almost every Harry Potter fan, especially middle-grade readers and families.
What Should You Read After Harry Potter?
Start with The Lightning Thief if you want the closest overall match: a young hero, a hidden world, a trio of friends and an expanding mythology.
Choose Nevermoor or Amari and the Night Brothers for a younger reader who wants magical institutions and a strong sense of discovery. Try The Magicians or A Deadly Education if you are an adult or older teen looking for a darker interpretation of magical education.
For classic fantasy, choose Narnia. For ambitious world-building, choose The Golden Compass. For something faster and funnier, try Artemis Fowl.
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Podcast recommendation: If you enjoy discussing fantasy, book adaptations and the stories that shape popular culture, follow That Love Podcast for more reviews and reading guides.
Advertisement: Before you leave, save this list for your next library visit or bookstore trip. The perfect post-Harry Potter read may be one title away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book like Harry Potter?
The Lightning Thief is the best overall choice because it combines a young protagonist, a hidden supernatural world, a close friendship group, humor, danger and a long-running mythology. It feels familiar to Harry Potter fans while remaining completely its own story.
Which book is most like Hogwarts?
Nevermoor and A Deadly Education both offer magical institutions where students learn, compete and face unusual dangers. Nevermoor is better for middle-grade readers, while A Deadly Education is darker and intended for older teens and adults.
What should I read after finishing all seven Harry Potter books?
Begin with The Lightning Thief, then try Nevermoor, Amari and the Night Brothers and The Golden Compass. Adult readers may also enjoy The Magicians, which revisits the magical-school idea from a more mature and critical perspective.
Is Percy Jackson like Harry Potter?
Yes. Both series follow young outsiders who discover hidden worlds and form powerful friendships while confronting dangerous forces. Percy Jackson is based on Greek mythology rather than wizarding magic, and its tone is often faster and more comedic.
Is Nevermoor suitable for Harry Potter fans?
Absolutely. It features a mysterious magical society, unusual talents, eccentric adults, difficult trials and a protagonist searching for belonging. It is particularly suitable for readers who enjoy the wonder and school-like atmosphere of the early Harry Potter books.
Is A Deadly Education suitable for children?
Probably not. Although it features a magical school, the novel is considerably darker than Harry Potter, with intense danger, death and more mature themes. It is best suited to older teens and adults.
What is the best fantasy series for a ten-year-old who likes Harry Potter?
The Lightning Thief, Nevermoor and Amari and the Night Brothers are excellent choices. They feature young protagonists, exciting adventures and imaginative worlds while remaining accessible to middle-grade readers.
Is The Magicians an adult version of Harry Potter?
It can be read as a darker adult examination of magical-school fantasy, but it is not simply an adult continuation of Harry Potter. It is more cynical, contains mature themes and focuses heavily on privilege, dissatisfaction and the consequences of power.
Which books like Harry Potter have a female protagonist?
Nevermoor, Amari and the Night Brothers, The Golden Compass, The Worst Witch and The School for Good and Evil all feature important female protagonists. Amari, Morrigan, Lyra, Mildred, Sophie and Agatha each approach fantasy from a different perspective.
Are these books part of series?
Most are. The Lightning Thief, Nevermoor, Amari and the Night Brothers, Artemis Fowl, The Golden Compass, Narnia and The School for Good and Evil all lead into larger series. A Deadly Education and The Magicians also have sequels.
More Places to Find Great Books, Movies and TV Shows
For background on the original films and their adaptations, readers can explore IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, Wikipedia, TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter.
Final Verdict
The best book like Harry Potter is The Lightning Thief, but it is not the only worthwhile choice. Nevermoor captures the wonder of entering a magical society, Amari and the Night Brothers offers mystery and heart, and The Golden Compass delivers a more philosophical adventure. Older readers can turn to A Deadly Education or *The Magicians for darker versions of the magical-school premise.
The most important thing is to decide which part of Harry Potter you miss most. Is it the school setting, the friendships, the mythology, the humor or the feeling of discovering an entire world hidden in plain sight? Once you know the answer, your next favorite fantasy series may be waiting on this list.
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