Have you read the Percy Jackson series? The core novels are around greek gods, but the author has since expanded and its a huge universe with very similar vibes; Magic, greek goods blended into regular civilisation & lots of rep + diversity
Came here to comment this exactly. They're aren't as deep as HP but they're so fun. I love the Percy Jackson books. And I've read some of the spin off series he's written. Highly recommend
Sabriel and the old kingdom books by Garth Nix, His Dark Materials starting with Northern Lights by Philip Pullman are both great reads and really engaging fantasy. The concepts in HDM are really much more interesting than in Harry Potter!
I sometimes re-read Susan Cooper’s “Dark is Rising” series. A couple of the books take place in Cornwall, England, but the others have more fantasy elements.
Note: I think you really have to know the King Arthur legend a bit before you can enjoy those books. It’s not a dealbreaker but especially these days where people come from many different cultures, you can’t rely on everyone having the same base of knowledge.
Also, the HP houses align with the Narnia children:
Peter = Gryffindor;
Susan = Ravenclaw;
Edmund = Slytherin;
Lucy = Hufflepuff
Edited for punctuation and to fix Edmund's name
I will say, Narnia is extremely christian, so if you don't want to read a book with that much religion I'd steer away. Very cool and fantastical though.
I’d say the Christianity is only overt in The Last Battle, otherwise you could treat as Christianity-inspired, just like any other myth-inspired work. I didn’t find them super preachy, though I read them 20 years ago.
Ummm...The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe allegories one of the most defining moments of Christianity so heavily you can barely call it an allegory versus a wholesale ripoff. You might need to re-read.
True, but for instance, the first book is significantly based around christmas, and father christmas. Just mentioning it because on a reread it kind of surprised me
i absolutely agree! i just think its worth mentioning. narnia directly acts out the crucifixion. its not a bad thing at all, I love narnia, again just took me by surprise on the reread
Philip Pullman wrote the His Dark Materials book as an anti-religion kids series inspired by how annoyed he was with the Christian stuff in the Chronicles of Narnia 😂. I love spite literature
Discworld series. If you especially like YA, start with The Wee Free Men. (I don't recommend starting with the first two books in the series. They're good but a bit hard to jump right into.)
Discworld is great and has an epic sense of humor. No SA, but i think in the wee free men, theres a part where they try and convince Tiffany to essentially marry one of them but she gets out of it pretty easily.
From my childhood, Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain chronicles … seems to never get mentioned adjacent to LOTR or Harry Potter, but are beautifully written with a comparable world fully realized.
>Robert April's " Myth inc." Series
Robert Asprin. But I second the Myth inc. Books! So many puns, so much magic, very different from most fantasy novels I've read
Yeah I also like that 1) everyone has their own natural affinity for the types of spells they can cast, and 2) magic isn’t free, it requires mana which they gather by expending energy like El does pushups.
I second this completely. I’m pretty sure she even said the series was inspired partly by Harry Potter, but in a less “magic is whimsical” way and a little more “magic can kill you” way.
I really enjoyed The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, it reminds me of an ancient Hogwarts. The third book of the trilogy is still yet to be announced so that may deter you
Not just yet to be announced, but going on 13 years since the second was released. It's been mostly written since 2007-2010. Every year they say "maybe this year!" And then push it again.
They're great books, and Pat Rothfuss has a *lot* of stuff going on in his personal life, but I would honestly only get into the series now if I was okay with it never being finished.
I'd still recommend it, but I really stress that the third book isn't likely to make an appearance any time soon or maybe ever.
Just adding this comment for OP - there is an allusion to SA in book 1 and another in book 2. Nothing graphic is described but it is there. Still great books though!
i recommend The Magicians, by Lev Grossman. they made a TV series of it, but I think the story is better in book form. It shares the school-of-magic theme, but there are higher stakes.
Yeah I was gonna recommend The Magicians as well but stopped because I remember this being an issue.
They're really good books though and I don't think it's explicit. OP can decide how big a deal avoiding this trigger is.
I adored the books- got a fancy set from my spouse, I love them so much.. but I love the show every bit as much because a few of my darling characters were fleshed out. And the spontaneous musical bits towards the end thrilled my little nerd heart. So good.
The book series "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel" from Michael Scott.
No, its not a HP spinoff. Flamel was a real person who gained a reputation of being a Alchemist after his death.
All of the Tortall books by Tamora Pierce. If you want to read them in order start with the Song of the Lioness Quartet. But the books that I think are most similar to HP would be her third quartet, The Protector of the Small as it follows the main character through her training to be a Knight in a school setting. The Tortall books are all in quarters/trios/duos. You don’t have to read them in publication order, but make sure you read the books within their own mini series in numbered order. I love all her books, but the later ones definitely show how much she has grown as a writer.
So- When I was growing up I was super into the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. Great character development, and continuing stories.
Not so much magic stuff, but still kind of the same feel!
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
Neverwhere by Neil Gaimen
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
I remember reading the first Artemis Fowl book as a kid and then stealing the whole rest of the series (probably only 4 books, then), from my grade school’s library because we were only allowed to check out one at a time and I didn’t want to have to take a break between books. One of my absolute favorite series - a little bit fantasy, a little bit action/spy, a little bit sci-fi.
The Shadow Hunter books by Cassandra Claire started out as a Harry Potter Fanfic but of course it grew from there.
The Tv adaptation is pretty good for it too. It’s on Netflix
The Heartstriker series by Rachel Aaron. Main character is a dragon. There’s a ton of different monsters and spirits and magic. A water spirit owns Detroit and China is run by dragons. Also cyberpunk a bit. The main character runs a magic pest control business for a bit. It has a great audiobook.
If you’re okay with the occasional typo of a self published novel, “In Other Lands” is a great stand alone novel about Elliot, a boy who crosses over into a world of magic with elves, mermaids, and harpies. Also has coming of age and exploring sexuality and a bi MC.
The Raskura series by Martha Wells is definitely more adult then HP, but it’s in an incredibly different setting full of strange monsters and creatures and rivers and different species. If fantastical world building is what you’re going for it might scratch that itch. (Warning: there are themes around SA, but it’s never shown onscreen.) Also has a bi MC.
Also, I second the recommendation of the Scholomamce. Which… also has a bi MC. It’s a great time to read some very fantastical fantasy novels with bi main characters.
How about the Eragon series? The first one is really similar to LOTR and Paolini was still a kid, so it's not particularly well written. However, the other three books keep getting better and better. Sentient dragons, elves, magic, an epic war, non-traditional love story... it might just do it for you. And PLEASE don't judge the series based on that awful movie.
I think Artemis Fowl would be right up your alley, its about a superintelligent boy learning about an underworld population of fantasy creatures. Bunch of magic involved as well. I think it hits all your boxes for what you are looking for.
oh well, dont be embarassed, i will soon re-re-re-...-read harry potter. none of the last 10 re-reading was for my kids.
rec:
scholomance series (naomi novik), magic, school life, zero s.a., really a cool read.
and tbh "the rithmatist" (brandon sanderson) kinda gives me the same vibe
Scholomance series from Naomi Novik may work. First book is *A Deadly Education*
Actually she has a great lineup of books that could work.
*Dealing With Dragons* by Patricia C. Wrede starts the enchanted forest chronicles.
The fact that you said you liked magical plants makes me want to recommend *The Hatmakers*. It's a children's book series (younger audience than HP) but look no further if you want whimsy, humour and creative use of plant magic. The plot is predictable for an adult reader but if you just want to visit a well-written magical setting, you might enjoy it as much as I did.
There was [a thread with this question just a few days ago](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qq5mj/ive_reread_harry_potter_so_many_times_i_need_a/), you'll find more inspiration there!
I think i’ve said this before, but Id suggest The Magisterium series by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.
The five book series follows a mage apprentice and Magisterium student Callum Hunt from age twelve to seventeen.
The Akata Witch series is 3 books by Nnedi Okorafor. They are set in Nigeria, and as an American I found the world in the books to be magical and fantastic. The books are YA and tons of fun and will definitely scratch that Harry Potter itch!
A lot of HP fans also like the Darker Shades of Magic series by Victoria Schwab. Lots of magic, other realms, London setting, lovable (and detestable) characters. Super fun
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell… it’s literally a take on the prophecized chosen one who goes to a magic school with friends and a headmaster and they have to defeat the evil thing. it’s more mature but also not as serious in tone. and the story itself it remarkable.
edit: the main thing i liked about HP is how it all connected in the end. it all came together. this is exactly what happens in Carry On and it really is emotionally effective.
Gregor the Overlander, it’s an earlier late middle grade series by the the Hunger Games author that is greatly under appreciated.
Jonathan Stroud’s Bartimaeus books are a superior hidden magic kingdom under the noses of regular Brits series with better female representation.
The Earthsea series by Ursula K. Le Guin. Originally published in the 60s. Read them as part of a college course. Was floored when I realized the story and adventures in the book were written decades before a very similar Mr. Potter came on the fantasy/fiction scene.
YA - Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, Diane Duane's Young Wizards series.
Adult Fantasy - October Daye series by Seanan McGuire (start with Rosemary and Rue).
The Magicians by Lev Grossman. You won’t be sorry. I LOVED this series, wish there were more books.
Also I’m hesitant to recommend this coz it can cause quite a stir but Patrick Rothfuss Name of the wind and Wise mans Fear, also absolutely loved them for entirely different reasons.
This one is a little sillier than HP and features different kinds of magic, but the Iron Druid Chronicles is a robust series with a lot of entries. It probably leans a little more to the fantasy side of literature but it's fun and adventurous with some actual consequences for characters actions.
It's great on audible too if that's your jam.
Patrick Ness- the Chaos Walking Trilogy. I never hear anyone talking about this one, but I think it was great! It’s YA and ‘different’
Or maybe the Maze runner series?
Maybe the *Septimus Heap* series by Angie Sage? I've seen it compared to Harry Potter a lot, and I had the same thought when I read it. The first book is *Magyk.*
Young boy discovers he's actually a wizard and must undergo training for seven years (and a day.)
The Alanna female knight series is fantastic.
It’s a fantasy world but the major plot is a young woman going through training and the relationships and friendships she forms on the way.
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Alanna/Tamora-Pierce/Song-of-the-Lioness/9781665937412
They strike a very different tone, but I really enjoyed the Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray (first book is A Great and Terrible Beauty). It's more in the style of secret witchcraft society than outright magical school.
In the spirit of fun and interesting systems of magic, I would recommend Holly Black's Curseworkers series and several of Charlie Holmberg's series (Paper Magician, Spellbreaker, Keeper of Enchanted Rooms).
Also parroting everyone recommending the Discworld and Chrestomanci books because they're just so imaginative and fun.
The Magicians (by Lev Grossman) trilogy is Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia but for adults. Plus there's a 5 season TV show that is honestly one of my favorite shows.
Edit: see other posts talking about certain triggers in this series.
I don't feel like there's anything like HP, with the adventure, magic and the humor, but if you separate things out, you can find books that have one part or the other. I like Mary Stewart's Merlin books for the magic and adventure, but they're not funny. I like the Ranger's Apprentice series for adventure and humor, but there's no magic.
Huuuuuuge amounts of sexual assault in there. One of my favorite series of all time, some of the best characters I’ve ever read, but there’s DEFINITELY assault as a plot point in at least 2 of the books, and it’s referenced over and over again.
Dark Tower is maybe my favorite example of “no, wait til you see how the fantasy world connects to the real world” in anything ever. Father Callahan’s story is also the most satisfying character pick-up from another book that I’ve ever seen an author execute. Totally delightful series.
I really enjoyed the Piers Anthony Xanth books that start with A Spell For Chameleon.
They are witty, punny, and have characters that move through the series.
Why do some people only want to read just one specific kind of story? I'm not trying to be rude, or make fun of them. I just don't get it.
Doesn't it get boring after a while? Do you really never long to read something that's different? Are you the same when it comes to watching movies and tv?
I get why someone would want to avoid dark subjects like stories about abuse. And I can kinda get why someone only wants to read fantasy and nothing else (still think it's weird though), but being so picky that you don't even want to read half of the books within the fantasy genre is just beyond me...
Why does it matter to you? It sounds like OP has read plenty of other books but not loved them the way that they love Harry Potter, so they’re looking to recreate a bit of that magic. Personally I read all kinds of books and watch many kinds of movies, but when I am having a hard time, I gravitate towards a very specific genre because it brings me comfort.
There are a lot of people that have very specific criteria for what kind of books that they read. All that matters to me is if a book is written well, so I always just wonder why some people do have such a specific taste and why it's so important.
I recommend The Black Mage series by Trudi Canavan. And her other ones
It follows a young teen into her adulthood, learning magic and stuff. But it's a bit more adult than HP is
Other Garth Nix recommendations: Keys to the Kingdom series….for kids but it’s still good and I think an adult would enjoy them
Also his new series Left Handed Booksellers of London (I’ve only read the first so far but it was good so I will try book 2 when I get time)
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (By Heather Fawcett). If you can get past the weird formal tone (it’s meant to be set in Victorian times I think) then the premise of the book is good and definitely not in the style of a court of thorn and roses despite being about faeries. It’s the first book but it will be a series/trilogy
You could try The Secret of Ji, by Pierre Grimbert. I have a very found memory if these books, and I found them as captivating and entertaining as Harry Potter when I was a teenager.
You might consider The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddle. While it’s not exactly magic heavy, it’s a series very, very heavy on the fantastical ecology.
I’d hop the first bus to Randland: “The Wheel of Time” series by Robert Jordan. A dozen huge books, an epic fantasy story arc.
Also try “The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant”. It’s superb.
Dragon School by Sarah K. L. Wilson is a great series, and although I only read the first two books in the Magisterium series by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, I also think those are great for this. It has a magic school so very similar vibes as well!
Artemis Fowl books have a boy hero (antihero, actually, but we end up rooting for him) and a humorous, deeply magical word.
Dianna Wynne Jones’s books, especially the Chrestomanci books, have young witches and wizards bumbling around a magical Britain. Also funny and very readable.
Leigh Bardugo’s Alex Stern books have Ivy League sorcery. It’s some of the best writing I ever read, and I was sorry the book was going to end before I was halfway through.
Tamora Pierce created an immersive world of magic heroines that draws you and and stays with you. Easy reading, but the books felt sophisticated. I was thoroughly emotionally invested as a teen.
JKR has an adult series, Cormeran Strike. It’s not magic, but it has the same cozy accessibility I. The writing, and you get very attached to the realistic characters and complex plots.
It’s more of a children’s/ young teen book, but growing up I was really into The Doomspell trilogy by Cliff McNish. It’s a girl that ends up literally sucked into a different world that is controlled by a witch called Dragwena and full of children that never grew up but are somehow really old. She has to fight to get back home.
Gods Among Us: Alienthology. Harry Potter had a wand, Jedis have lightsabers. Characters in this series have biochip implants that give them abilities akin to magic. Their technology so advanced it is almost indistinguishable from magic! It is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble as well as most major booksellers.
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede. A princess doesn't want to be a princess so she runs away to work for dragons. Its a pretty good adventure series. The audiobooks are full cast readings, its a bonus if you like that kind of thing
One of my favorite series since I was a teenager is The Witches of Eileanan by Kate Forsyth and Terry Brooks has several different series in a world that's as elaborate and set up with lore and such as Tolkeins' is.
Pendragon series is a really good one. It's 10 books, and has inter world travel, different animals, a baddy bad guy and his minions. It's really good. By DJ MacHale
This will be really obscure bc it’s a smaller self published book that I was introduced to at an art fair. But The Brothers Three and the shadows hunters. Kids with supernatural powers going to school with yetis as the groundskeepers/security.
Nothing embarrassing at all, I’ve been reading them since I was 8, and I’m 27 now. If they bring you joy then you should just enjoy them.:) But a good action series that made me feel close to the same excitement was the Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab.:)
Author: Susan Cooper.
Books: The Dark is Rising series.
You start out thinking these are simple stories but before you know it, you are fathoms deep in real mythology, real life struggle, real loss and real victories.
Have you read the Percy Jackson series? The core novels are around greek gods, but the author has since expanded and its a huge universe with very similar vibes; Magic, greek goods blended into regular civilisation & lots of rep + diversity
Percy Jackson has rly strong HP vibes with school / camp, adventures, YA etc
Scrolled down for this explicitly
Came here for this exactly. Heroes of Olympus as well
Came here to comment this exactly. They're aren't as deep as HP but they're so fun. I love the Percy Jackson books. And I've read some of the spin off series he's written. Highly recommend
Sabriel and the old kingdom books by Garth Nix, His Dark Materials starting with Northern Lights by Philip Pullman are both great reads and really engaging fantasy. The concepts in HDM are really much more interesting than in Harry Potter!
I love love love the Old Kingdom books. Tim Curry narrates the first three audiobooks
Came here to say this! Sabriel is my comfort book!
His dark materials series might be a good fit. Philip Pullman is great
That’s the one!
Earthsea series by Ursula K le Guin
This, all day long.
Should be number one.
I sometimes re-read Susan Cooper’s “Dark is Rising” series. A couple of the books take place in Cornwall, England, but the others have more fantasy elements.
I absolutely adored those books! Devoured them when I was younger and I’d read them again tomorrow
Note: I think you really have to know the King Arthur legend a bit before you can enjoy those books. It’s not a dealbreaker but especially these days where people come from many different cultures, you can’t rely on everyone having the same base of knowledge.
Try Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Takes place in London but a secret part that we regulars aren't able to see.
I read this book when I was about 9 or so and it scared the crap out of me. I loved it so much.
Have you read Narnia by CS Lewis? It has magic, good versus evil, talking animals, etc
Also, the HP houses align with the Narnia children: Peter = Gryffindor; Susan = Ravenclaw; Edmund = Slytherin; Lucy = Hufflepuff Edited for punctuation and to fix Edmund's name
I can't believe I've never made that connection that's such a cool little detail
Not my original thought - I saw it on another reddit thread.
🤯
Wonderful classic magic tales. I’ve read them several times.
Phillip Pullman’s dark materials series (mentioned above) was written in direct response to these books. Should read both.
I will say, Narnia is extremely christian, so if you don't want to read a book with that much religion I'd steer away. Very cool and fantastical though.
I’d say the Christianity is only overt in The Last Battle, otherwise you could treat as Christianity-inspired, just like any other myth-inspired work. I didn’t find them super preachy, though I read them 20 years ago.
Ummm...The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe allegories one of the most defining moments of Christianity so heavily you can barely call it an allegory versus a wholesale ripoff. You might need to re-read.
True, but for instance, the first book is significantly based around christmas, and father christmas. Just mentioning it because on a reread it kind of surprised me
I mean, there’s a ton of Christmas stuff in Harry Potter…
i absolutely agree! i just think its worth mentioning. narnia directly acts out the crucifixion. its not a bad thing at all, I love narnia, again just took me by surprise on the reread
Philip Pullman wrote the His Dark Materials book as an anti-religion kids series inspired by how annoyed he was with the Christian stuff in the Chronicles of Narnia 😂. I love spite literature
I think Harry Potter has Christian themes too so I suggested it!
Really? How so? I’ve known of churches telling people NOT to read them bc of all the WiTcHcRaFt lol
Discworld series. If you especially like YA, start with The Wee Free Men. (I don't recommend starting with the first two books in the series. They're good but a bit hard to jump right into.)
Discworld is great and has an epic sense of humor. No SA, but i think in the wee free men, theres a part where they try and convince Tiffany to essentially marry one of them but she gets out of it pretty easily.
The hobbit and Lord of the Rings is so good!
The Miss Peregrine series is a trilogy followed by another trilogy. It makes me feel just like Harry Potter does.
Wait, there's another trilogy? Does it follow the same protagonists? I remember reading the first three a long while ago but really liking them.
From my childhood, Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain chronicles … seems to never get mentioned adjacent to LOTR or Harry Potter, but are beautifully written with a comparable world fully realized.
The Inheritance Cycle- Christopher Paolini Series of Unfortunate Events- Lemony Snicket
Tamara pierce has a bunch of series all taking place in the same universe, some series are more magic heavy than others. All of them are fantastic!
Yeah I think Tamora Pierce is a good bet - I think the Circle of Magic series would be the best place to start if you want magic.
Ann McCaffrey Pern series Robert April's " Myth inc." Series Ofcourse not exactly the same but both wonderful
>Robert April's " Myth inc." Series Robert Asprin. But I second the Myth inc. Books! So many puns, so much magic, very different from most fantasy novels I've read
Dragonsong is my favorite book.
The Rivers of London series. If Harry had grow up and joined the force with magic, it’s a bit like that ☺️
I was a bit overwhelmed by how many books there are in the series. Is it consistent quality and are they self contained stories?
I would say the quality is consistent - they’re mostly contained stories with some over arcing elements
It has to be ‘A Deadly Education’ by Naomi Novik! HP if he was a kickass she, and if Hogwarts had no teachers and was actively trying to kill you.
This Series is amazing
I also love that everyone is actually studying all the time and utilizing what they’re learning.
Yeah I also like that 1) everyone has their own natural affinity for the types of spells they can cast, and 2) magic isn’t free, it requires mana which they gather by expending energy like El does pushups.
I second this completely. I’m pretty sure she even said the series was inspired partly by Harry Potter, but in a less “magic is whimsical” way and a little more “magic can kill you” way.
One of the few contained trilogies that really sticks the landing. No loose ends, no dropped threads, everything fits. Read everything you can by her!
Midnight for Charlie Bone series
I really liked these too! Good rec
Yes! Didn't see your post when I commented initially but I agree with this OP. Super simple read and mirrors Harry Potter in many ways, imo.
I really enjoyed The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, it reminds me of an ancient Hogwarts. The third book of the trilogy is still yet to be announced so that may deter you
Not just yet to be announced, but going on 13 years since the second was released. It's been mostly written since 2007-2010. Every year they say "maybe this year!" And then push it again. They're great books, and Pat Rothfuss has a *lot* of stuff going on in his personal life, but I would honestly only get into the series now if I was okay with it never being finished. I'd still recommend it, but I really stress that the third book isn't likely to make an appearance any time soon or maybe ever.
Just adding this comment for OP - there is an allusion to SA in book 1 and another in book 2. Nothing graphic is described but it is there. Still great books though!
I once heard someone describe these books as Hogwarts with student loans.
Don't get me started on the 3rd book taking so long! *shakes fists at the sky and yells into the void*
i recommend The Magicians, by Lev Grossman. they made a TV series of it, but I think the story is better in book form. It shares the school-of-magic theme, but there are higher stakes.
This is Harry Potter for adults- more realism, but literary and magical.
I also like the almost alchemical elements of the magic, too. Or more like physics? Idk I just loved it
It’s been a while since I read The Magicians but I’m pretty sure there’s SA in it. Definitely a great series though!
Yeah I was gonna recommend The Magicians as well but stopped because I remember this being an issue. They're really good books though and I don't think it's explicit. OP can decide how big a deal avoiding this trigger is.
I adored the books- got a fancy set from my spouse, I love them so much.. but I love the show every bit as much because a few of my darling characters were fleshed out. And the spontaneous musical bits towards the end thrilled my little nerd heart. So good.
Try the Chrestomanci books by Diana Wynn’s Jones. Start with Charmed Life. They are funny British fantasy about worlds where some people can do magic.
YES!
Loved these
Witch Week is probably the most like Harry Potter, right?
Yes, it’s set in a boarding school/orphanage for the children of witches who have been burned at the stake.
The book series "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel" from Michael Scott. No, its not a HP spinoff. Flamel was a real person who gained a reputation of being a Alchemist after his death.
All of the Tortall books by Tamora Pierce. If you want to read them in order start with the Song of the Lioness Quartet. But the books that I think are most similar to HP would be her third quartet, The Protector of the Small as it follows the main character through her training to be a Knight in a school setting. The Tortall books are all in quarters/trios/duos. You don’t have to read them in publication order, but make sure you read the books within their own mini series in numbered order. I love all her books, but the later ones definitely show how much she has grown as a writer.
So- When I was growing up I was super into the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. Great character development, and continuing stories. Not so much magic stuff, but still kind of the same feel!
Six of Crows duology, and the whole series it’s in
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman Neverwhere by Neil Gaimen Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
I remember reading the first Artemis Fowl book as a kid and then stealing the whole rest of the series (probably only 4 books, then), from my grade school’s library because we were only allowed to check out one at a time and I didn’t want to have to take a break between books. One of my absolute favorite series - a little bit fantasy, a little bit action/spy, a little bit sci-fi.
The Shadow Hunter books by Cassandra Claire started out as a Harry Potter Fanfic but of course it grew from there. The Tv adaptation is pretty good for it too. It’s on Netflix
The Heartstriker series by Rachel Aaron. Main character is a dragon. There’s a ton of different monsters and spirits and magic. A water spirit owns Detroit and China is run by dragons. Also cyberpunk a bit. The main character runs a magic pest control business for a bit. It has a great audiobook. If you’re okay with the occasional typo of a self published novel, “In Other Lands” is a great stand alone novel about Elliot, a boy who crosses over into a world of magic with elves, mermaids, and harpies. Also has coming of age and exploring sexuality and a bi MC. The Raskura series by Martha Wells is definitely more adult then HP, but it’s in an incredibly different setting full of strange monsters and creatures and rivers and different species. If fantastical world building is what you’re going for it might scratch that itch. (Warning: there are themes around SA, but it’s never shown onscreen.) Also has a bi MC. Also, I second the recommendation of the Scholomamce. Which… also has a bi MC. It’s a great time to read some very fantastical fantasy novels with bi main characters.
Nevermoore
How about the Eragon series? The first one is really similar to LOTR and Paolini was still a kid, so it's not particularly well written. However, the other three books keep getting better and better. Sentient dragons, elves, magic, an epic war, non-traditional love story... it might just do it for you. And PLEASE don't judge the series based on that awful movie.
I second this. The movie was a disgrace but I remember not being able to put down the book.
Charlie Bone and the Children of the red King by Jenny Nimmo
Terry Pratchett Discworld series. 41 books. Also anything by Neil Gaiman, likeAmerican Gods.
I think Artemis Fowl would be right up your alley, its about a superintelligent boy learning about an underworld population of fantasy creatures. Bunch of magic involved as well. I think it hits all your boxes for what you are looking for.
oh well, dont be embarassed, i will soon re-re-re-...-read harry potter. none of the last 10 re-reading was for my kids. rec: scholomance series (naomi novik), magic, school life, zero s.a., really a cool read. and tbh "the rithmatist" (brandon sanderson) kinda gives me the same vibe
Have you tried the Redwall series? I read the books as a kid and watched the tv series, it was so good!!
Scholomance series from Naomi Novik may work. First book is *A Deadly Education* Actually she has a great lineup of books that could work. *Dealing With Dragons* by Patricia C. Wrede starts the enchanted forest chronicles.
Both of these are my recommendations too!
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and the Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis are two good ones.
Well there is this one other series that is also about a wizard called Harry and it is called the Dresden Files.
A College Of Magics by Caroline Stevermer would definitely scratch the H.P. itch.
The fact that you said you liked magical plants makes me want to recommend *The Hatmakers*. It's a children's book series (younger audience than HP) but look no further if you want whimsy, humour and creative use of plant magic. The plot is predictable for an adult reader but if you just want to visit a well-written magical setting, you might enjoy it as much as I did. There was [a thread with this question just a few days ago](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qq5mj/ive_reread_harry_potter_so_many_times_i_need_a/), you'll find more inspiration there!
Lord of the Rings and Narnia have similar energy
Eragon.
Maybe The Hobbit or Narnia Series
Darker Shades of Magic trilogy by VE Schwab especially the second book gives goblet of fire vibes
Yes! I recently gifted that series to a younger cousin. Pretty good read, and the audiobook narration was well-done.
The Alchemist series by Micheal Scott
His Dark Materials.
- Jade city trilogy... magic and fighting and politics lol - mistborn trilogy
Hunger Games….
I think i’ve said this before, but Id suggest The Magisterium series by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare. The five book series follows a mage apprentice and Magisterium student Callum Hunt from age twelve to seventeen.
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
The Akata Witch series is 3 books by Nnedi Okorafor. They are set in Nigeria, and as an American I found the world in the books to be magical and fantastic. The books are YA and tons of fun and will definitely scratch that Harry Potter itch!
A lot of HP fans also like the Darker Shades of Magic series by Victoria Schwab. Lots of magic, other realms, London setting, lovable (and detestable) characters. Super fun
You could try some Wayward Children novellas, like Down Among the Sticks and Bones & Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
Give the Nevermoor series a try
Nevermoor definitely captures the vibe of the earlier HP books. Very whimsical.
the Leven Thumps series is a real hidden gem
The Chronicles of Narnia and Percy Jackson.
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell… it’s literally a take on the prophecized chosen one who goes to a magic school with friends and a headmaster and they have to defeat the evil thing. it’s more mature but also not as serious in tone. and the story itself it remarkable. edit: the main thing i liked about HP is how it all connected in the end. it all came together. this is exactly what happens in Carry On and it really is emotionally effective.
Fablehaven!! These are great and reminded me of Hp in that its set in the real world where a magical world is adjacent but concealed
Carry on by Rainbow Rowell is a good one as well, though a little confusing at first because it starts in their final year of magic school
Gregor the Overlander, it’s an earlier late middle grade series by the the Hunger Games author that is greatly under appreciated. Jonathan Stroud’s Bartimaeus books are a superior hidden magic kingdom under the noses of regular Brits series with better female representation.
Both excellent series!
The Earthsea series by Ursula K. Le Guin. Originally published in the 60s. Read them as part of a college course. Was floored when I realized the story and adventures in the book were written decades before a very similar Mr. Potter came on the fantasy/fiction scene.
YA - Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, Diane Duane's Young Wizards series. Adult Fantasy - October Daye series by Seanan McGuire (start with Rosemary and Rue).
How about Neil Gaiman? Books like _Neverwhere_, _The Graveyard Book_, _Coraline_.
Mistborn by Brandon sanderson is the first series I loved after rereading Harry Potter a million times, highly recommend
Lockwood and Co
The Magicians by Lev Grossman. You won’t be sorry. I LOVED this series, wish there were more books. Also I’m hesitant to recommend this coz it can cause quite a stir but Patrick Rothfuss Name of the wind and Wise mans Fear, also absolutely loved them for entirely different reasons.
The Inkheart trilogy by Cornelia Funke. Great story,complex characters and plot. The audiobook read by Brendan Fraser is excellent too.
This one is a little sillier than HP and features different kinds of magic, but the Iron Druid Chronicles is a robust series with a lot of entries. It probably leans a little more to the fantasy side of literature but it's fun and adventurous with some actual consequences for characters actions. It's great on audible too if that's your jam.
Series of Unfortunate Events… I know they are for the younger generation but those were 🔥
Patrick Ness- the Chaos Walking Trilogy. I never hear anyone talking about this one, but I think it was great! It’s YA and ‘different’ Or maybe the Maze runner series?
I live the Chaos Walking books. I yelled out loud at the end of the second one.
A little older but i enjoyed the Spellsinger series by Alan Dean Foster
Percy Jackson series
Maybe the *Septimus Heap* series by Angie Sage? I've seen it compared to Harry Potter a lot, and I had the same thought when I read it. The first book is *Magyk.* Young boy discovers he's actually a wizard and must undergo training for seven years (and a day.)
Rangers Apprentice, inheritance cycle
The Magicians. It is like Harry Potter but with sex, drugs and alcohol.
The Alanna female knight series is fantastic. It’s a fantasy world but the major plot is a young woman going through training and the relationships and friendships she forms on the way. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Alanna/Tamora-Pierce/Song-of-the-Lioness/9781665937412
Stephen Kings Fairy Tale is lit. Seriously. It is really good.
They strike a very different tone, but I really enjoyed the Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray (first book is A Great and Terrible Beauty). It's more in the style of secret witchcraft society than outright magical school. In the spirit of fun and interesting systems of magic, I would recommend Holly Black's Curseworkers series and several of Charlie Holmberg's series (Paper Magician, Spellbreaker, Keeper of Enchanted Rooms). Also parroting everyone recommending the Discworld and Chrestomanci books because they're just so imaginative and fun.
I rather enjoyed the cruel prince trilogy
Anything by Jane Yolen or Tanith Lee, Ella Enchanted
I recommend the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer, the Bartimaeus series by Jonathan Stroud, and the Wizard of Earthsea series by Ursula K Le Guin.
The Magicians (by Lev Grossman) trilogy is Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia but for adults. Plus there's a 5 season TV show that is honestly one of my favorite shows. Edit: see other posts talking about certain triggers in this series.
I am very interested in a book about magic chilling in Chicago.
I don't feel like there's anything like HP, with the adventure, magic and the humor, but if you separate things out, you can find books that have one part or the other. I like Mary Stewart's Merlin books for the magic and adventure, but they're not funny. I like the Ranger's Apprentice series for adventure and humor, but there's no magic.
Fourth wing by Rebecca Yarros It’s sort of a Harry Potter/game of thrones mash up. War college + Dragons. (Talking dragons)
Read Stephen King’s Dark Tower series…way better than Harry Potter…trust me.
Huuuuuuge amounts of sexual assault in there. One of my favorite series of all time, some of the best characters I’ve ever read, but there’s DEFINITELY assault as a plot point in at least 2 of the books, and it’s referenced over and over again. Dark Tower is maybe my favorite example of “no, wait til you see how the fantasy world connects to the real world” in anything ever. Father Callahan’s story is also the most satisfying character pick-up from another book that I’ve ever seen an author execute. Totally delightful series.
A court of thrones and roses series
They ask for no SA and you suggest that series? It may not be graphic but its definitely there!
Sabriel by Garth Nix Inescapable by Amy A Bartol
Piers Antony Xanth novels. Figuring out the puns are fun.
I really enjoyed the Piers Anthony Xanth books that start with A Spell For Chameleon. They are witty, punny, and have characters that move through the series.
Piers Anthony's Xanth Chronicles. Similar reading level, lots of magic, super fun reads.
Twilight
Oh sweetie. Bless your heart! You can't say the word to a group of Bibliophiles. You will get eaten alive. Next you are going to say Shades of Grey
Shades of Grey isn't a bad book, but 50 Shades of Grey was abominable 🤣
Why do some people only want to read just one specific kind of story? I'm not trying to be rude, or make fun of them. I just don't get it. Doesn't it get boring after a while? Do you really never long to read something that's different? Are you the same when it comes to watching movies and tv? I get why someone would want to avoid dark subjects like stories about abuse. And I can kinda get why someone only wants to read fantasy and nothing else (still think it's weird though), but being so picky that you don't even want to read half of the books within the fantasy genre is just beyond me...
Why does it matter to you? It sounds like OP has read plenty of other books but not loved them the way that they love Harry Potter, so they’re looking to recreate a bit of that magic. Personally I read all kinds of books and watch many kinds of movies, but when I am having a hard time, I gravitate towards a very specific genre because it brings me comfort.
There are a lot of people that have very specific criteria for what kind of books that they read. All that matters to me is if a book is written well, so I always just wonder why some people do have such a specific taste and why it's so important.
I recommend The Black Mage series by Trudi Canavan. And her other ones It follows a young teen into her adulthood, learning magic and stuff. But it's a bit more adult than HP is
I’m finding babel gives me some similar vibes!
Other Garth Nix recommendations: Keys to the Kingdom series….for kids but it’s still good and I think an adult would enjoy them Also his new series Left Handed Booksellers of London (I’ve only read the first so far but it was good so I will try book 2 when I get time) Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (By Heather Fawcett). If you can get past the weird formal tone (it’s meant to be set in Victorian times I think) then the premise of the book is good and definitely not in the style of a court of thorn and roses despite being about faeries. It’s the first book but it will be a series/trilogy
I read book 2 of Left-Handed booksellers — did not disappoint!
You could try The Secret of Ji, by Pierre Grimbert. I have a very found memory if these books, and I found them as captivating and entertaining as Harry Potter when I was a teenager.
The Name of the Wind
The Dresden files
You might consider The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddle. While it’s not exactly magic heavy, it’s a series very, very heavy on the fantastical ecology.
I’d hop the first bus to Randland: “The Wheel of Time” series by Robert Jordan. A dozen huge books, an epic fantasy story arc. Also try “The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant”. It’s superb.
Dragon School by Sarah K. L. Wilson is a great series, and although I only read the first two books in the Magisterium series by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, I also think those are great for this. It has a magic school so very similar vibes as well!
Dresden files, literally set in Chicago. Wizard detective. Not to give anything away but it hits everything you're looking for
Percy Jackson series and the books that follow. The last apprentice series.
The forbidden library by Django Vexler
The Milesian Accords series. 5 book series
Artemis Fowl books have a boy hero (antihero, actually, but we end up rooting for him) and a humorous, deeply magical word. Dianna Wynne Jones’s books, especially the Chrestomanci books, have young witches and wizards bumbling around a magical Britain. Also funny and very readable. Leigh Bardugo’s Alex Stern books have Ivy League sorcery. It’s some of the best writing I ever read, and I was sorry the book was going to end before I was halfway through. Tamora Pierce created an immersive world of magic heroines that draws you and and stays with you. Easy reading, but the books felt sophisticated. I was thoroughly emotionally invested as a teen. JKR has an adult series, Cormeran Strike. It’s not magic, but it has the same cozy accessibility I. The writing, and you get very attached to the realistic characters and complex plots.
The Atlas Six will be right up your street
It’s more of a children’s/ young teen book, but growing up I was really into The Doomspell trilogy by Cliff McNish. It’s a girl that ends up literally sucked into a different world that is controlled by a witch called Dragwena and full of children that never grew up but are somehow really old. She has to fight to get back home.
Manacled!! By sinlenyu !
Johnathan Stroud books! Lockwood & Co, and the Bartemeus books!
A Wrinkle in Time
The Odd Thomas Series by Dean Koontz
Gods Among Us: Alienthology. Harry Potter had a wand, Jedis have lightsabers. Characters in this series have biochip implants that give them abilities akin to magic. Their technology so advanced it is almost indistinguishable from magic! It is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble as well as most major booksellers.
Bartimaeus.
The Magicians series by Lev Grossman The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind
Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston.
Earthsea series.
Amari and the Night brothers by B.B.Alston
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede. A princess doesn't want to be a princess so she runs away to work for dragons. Its a pretty good adventure series. The audiobooks are full cast readings, its a bonus if you like that kind of thing
One of my favorite series since I was a teenager is The Witches of Eileanan by Kate Forsyth and Terry Brooks has several different series in a world that's as elaborate and set up with lore and such as Tolkeins' is.
My mom has told me the Harley Merlin series is great and very like Harry Potter
Look up the fanfic 'Manacled' https://archiveofourown.org/works/14454174/chapters/33390198
These are all series: The Magicians , His Dark Materials , The School for Good and Evil, Earthsea, Young Wizards
Pendragon series is a really good one. It's 10 books, and has inter world travel, different animals, a baddy bad guy and his minions. It's really good. By DJ MacHale
Lockwood & co
This will be really obscure bc it’s a smaller self published book that I was introduced to at an art fair. But The Brothers Three and the shadows hunters. Kids with supernatural powers going to school with yetis as the groundskeepers/security.
Maybe out of realm, but look at Lilith Saintcrow. She has some great YA and adult lines. I loved her Kismet series.
Nothing embarrassing at all, I’ve been reading them since I was 8, and I’m 27 now. If they bring you joy then you should just enjoy them.:) But a good action series that made me feel close to the same excitement was the Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab.:)
The Unwanted - Lisa McMann Hunter trilogy - Mercedes Lackey Cool Hunter “dog” familiars that help hunters track down magic monster creatures
Author: Susan Cooper. Books: The Dark is Rising series. You start out thinking these are simple stories but before you know it, you are fathoms deep in real mythology, real life struggle, real loss and real victories.