Fantasy Books Like Harry Potter
Looking for fantasy books like Harry Potter?
Here are five great options that capture elements of magic, adventure, and coming-of-age stories:
1. Amelia Moon & the Solstice Spectacular by RJ Roark
Why it’s similar: Like Harry Potter, it’s about a young girl who discovers that there is more to her family than meets the eye. The series combines humor, friendship, and epic quests with the mythology of Ancient Civilizations like Ancient Egypt and Atlantis.
First book: The Solstice Spectacular
2. Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
Why it’s similar: Like Harry Potter, it’s about a young boy who discovers he’s special and is thrust into a world of mythological gods and monsters. The series combines humor, friendship, and epic quests with Greek mythology.
First book: The Lightning Thief
3. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Why it’s similar: This series follows Quentin Coldwater, a teenager who discovers that magic is real and attends a secretive school for magicians. It’s often considered a more mature, darker version of Harry Potter, blending fantasy with themes of growing up and disillusionment.
First book: The Magicians
4. The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
Why it’s similar: Set in a magical school where children are trained to become heroes or villains, it mixes fairy tales, magic, and friendship, with characters discovering their destinies. This series appeals to readers who loved the magic school setting of Harry Potter.
First book: The School for Good and Evil
5. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Why it’s similar: A classic in the fantasy genre, this series follows young Lyra Belacqua as she embarks on a dangerous adventure in parallel universes filled with magic, armored bears, and mysterious artifacts. Like Harry Potter, it features a young protagonist facing grand themes of power, loyalty, and destiny.
First book: The Golden Compass (Northern Lights in some regions)
Each of these books offers a unique take on magic, adventure, and the challenges of growing up in a fantastical world.
Amelia Moon & the Solstice Spectacular
The Amelia Moon series by RJ Roark is a fast-paced, humorous, and action-packed fantasy series that weaves the mythology of ancient civilizations into the modern world. The series follows Amelia Moon, a 12-year-old girl who discovers her sleepy western town of Sundance, Wyoming isn’t ordinary. And neither is she. Amelia’s world is turned upside down when she uncovers long-buried secrets — both about her town and her family .
Key Themes:
At its heart, the series explores themes of identity, friendship, and destiny. Amelia, who has always felt like an outcast in his regular life due to her love of the great outdoors, finds that these traits are actually a feature, not a bug. The series emphasizes the importance of embracing who you are, even if the journey to self-acceptance is difficult.
Magical World:
Amelia discovers that her sleepy western town is actually a world full of secrets. The world-building is rich with both ancient mythology and modern-day twists as Amelia and her best friend Veyla begin to connect invisible dots. Roark expertly mixes humor and danger, making the ancient myths accessible and relatable for younger readers.
Quests and Prophecies:
The series revolves around mysterious quests that often mirror the adventures of classical heroes. At the same time, Amelia grapples with a larger prophecy and a looming catastrophe, giving the series an epic feel. As Amelia and her friends (like Veyla) race against time to stop ancient evils, they face difficult moral choices, making the series more than just a simple adventure.
Humor and Friendships:
What sets Amelia Moon & the Solstice Spectacular apart is its balance of lightheartedness and action. Amelia’s witty, often sarcastic voice adds a sense of fun and relatability to her dangerous encounters with the mysterious. The friendships Amelia builds with other characters—like Veyla and Professor Humboldt—are central to the series, highlighting the power of teamwork and loyalty in the face of overwhelming odds.
Why It’s Like Harry Potter:
Like Harry Potter, Amelia Moon follows a young girl discovering her extraordinary heritage, with a mysterious town, and a group of close-knit friends who help her face increasingly powerful threats. Both series mix the everyday struggles of adolescence with larger-than-life challenges, blending humor, fantasy, and heart.
The Amelia Moon series, starting with The Solstice Spectacular, is an immersive, mythological journey filled with relatable characters, epic quests, and lessons about growing up, making it a great choice for readers who love magical adventures like Harry Potter.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians
The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan is a fast-paced, humorous, and action-packed fantasy series that weaves Greek mythology into the modern world. The series follows Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old boy who discovers he’s not an ordinary kid, but the demigod son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. His world is turned upside down when he learns that the myths he grew up reading are real, and the gods, monsters, and heroes of ancient Greece still walk among us.
Key Themes:
At its heart, the series explores themes of identity, friendship, and destiny. Percy, who has always felt like an outcast in his regular life due to his ADHD and dyslexia, finds that these traits are actually tied to his demigod nature—his battle instincts and ability to read ancient Greek. The series emphasizes the importance of embracing who you are, even if the journey to self-acceptance is difficult.
Magical World:
Percy’s world is full of secret locations like Camp Half-Blood, a hidden training camp for demigods, where Percy and other children of the gods learn to master their powers and prepare for dangerous quests. The world-building is rich with both ancient mythology and modern-day twists—gods interact with humans, and mythical creatures like centaurs, satyrs, and the Furies are blended into everyday settings like New York City. Riordan expertly mixes humor and danger, making the ancient myths accessible and relatable for younger readers.
Quests and Prophecies:
The series revolves around thrilling quests that often mirror the adventures of classical heroes, such as retrieving Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt or navigating the dangerous labyrinth of Daedalus. At the same time, Percy grapples with larger prophecies and a looming war between the gods, giving the series an epic feel. As Percy and his friends (like Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, and Grover the satyr) race against time to stop ancient evils, they face difficult moral choices, making the series more than just a simple adventure.
Humor and Friendships:
What sets Percy Jackson apart is its balance of lightheartedness and action. Percy’s witty, often sarcastic narrative voice adds a sense of fun and relatability to his dangerous encounters with monsters and gods. The friendships Percy builds with other characters—like Annabeth and Grover—are central to the series, highlighting the power of teamwork and loyalty in the face of overwhelming odds.
Why It’s Like Harry Potter:
Like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson follows a young boy discovering his extraordinary heritage, with a magical camp/school setting (Camp Half-Blood instead of Hogwarts) and a group of close-knit friends who help him face increasingly powerful threats. Both series mix the everyday struggles of adolescence with larger-than-life challenges, blending humor, fantasy, and heart.
The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, starting with The Lightning Thief, is an immersive, mythological journey filled with relatable characters, epic quests, and lessons about growing up, making it a great choice for readers who love magical adventures like Harry Potter.
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
The Magicians by Lev Grossman is a fantasy series that offers a mature, darker, and more psychologically complex take on the magical school trope. It follows Quentin Coldwater, a brilliant but deeply dissatisfied teenager, as he stumbles into a world of real magic that is both enchanting and disillusioning. Unlike traditional coming-of-age fantasy stories, The Magicians explores themes of depression, existentialism, and the often bittersweet reality of growing up, using magic as a metaphor for the search for meaning in life.
A Darker Magical School:
The series begins with Quentin being accepted into Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, a secretive, elite school where magic is taught to a select few. While Brakebills might seem similar to Hogwarts at first glance, it’s not a whimsical place filled with wonder. Instead, it’s a rigorous, almost brutal institution where magic is learned through intense study and discipline, stripping away the romanticism that often surrounds magical education in other books.
Quentin and his fellow students are not chosen because of destiny or inherent goodness, but because they are capable of learning magic—and that magic, while powerful, is difficult, dangerous, and often comes with a heavy emotional toll. The world of The Magicians doesn’t shy away from showing the consequences of wielding such power, often delving into the darker aspects of magical ability, like addiction, loss, and obsession.
Characters and Their Struggles:
Quentin, the protagonist, is not your typical heroic figure. Throughout the series, he wrestles with feelings of inadequacy, unhappiness, and a deep-seated belief that life should be more meaningful than what he’s experiencing. Even after discovering magic, Quentin finds himself constantly searching for a sense of purpose and fulfillment that seems just out of reach.
This makes The Magicians more of a character-driven narrative than many other fantasy series. Rather than focusing solely on the fantastical elements, Grossman delves deeply into Quentin’s psychology, exploring how a person can possess immense magical power and still feel lost and empty. Quentin’s relationships with other characters—like the ambitious Alice, the mysterious Eliot, and the cynical Janet—are fraught with tension and complexity, reflecting the messiness of real-life friendships and romantic entanglements.
Magic as a Metaphor for Adulthood:
In The Magicians, magic is not an escape from the mundane realities of life but a heightened reflection of them. While many fantasy books, like Harry Potter, offer a world where magic helps solve problems, Grossman’s series often shows how magic complicates life even further. The characters’ magical abilities don’t provide them with the happiness or answers they’re seeking; instead, magic often exacerbates their existential struggles.
The series challenges the idea that achieving great power or entering a fantastical world can resolve one’s inner turmoil. In fact, the more Quentin and his friends gain access to incredible magic and alternate realities, the more they grapple with questions about what truly gives life meaning. This existential thread runs through the entire series, turning it into an exploration of what happens when the fantasy of childhood meets the harsh realities of adulthood.
The World of Fillory:
One of the central plotlines in The Magicians is Quentin’s obsession with Fillory, a fictional magical land from a series of children’s books he adored growing up (an homage to Narnia). When Quentin discovers that Fillory is not only real but far darker and more dangerous than he imagined, the series takes a sharp turn into epic fantasy territory. Fillory, like magic itself, is not the perfect escape Quentin hoped for—it is a world filled with dangers, political intrigue, and morally ambiguous choices.
The transition from dreaming of a magical world to confronting the grim realities of one is a key theme in The Magicians. The series reflects on the tension between childhood fantasy and adult disillusionment, asking what happens when the worlds we dream of are flawed and complicated.
Why It’s Like Harry Potter:
While The Magicians shares some surface-level similarities with Harry Potter—a magical school, secret societies, and a young protagonist who discovers his magical potential—it takes these elements in a very different direction. It’s a more adult, emotionally raw exploration of magic, focusing on the internal struggles of its characters and the cost of pursuing power and meaning.
Where Harry Potter offers a clear division between good and evil, The Magicians exists in shades of gray, with morally complex characters and ambiguous outcomes. It’s ideal for readers who grew up loving Harry Potter but are now looking for a more mature and introspective take on magic, one that deals with the challenges of finding one’s place in a world where magic doesn’t fix everything.
Lev Grossman’s The Magicians is a richly layered series that combines elements of fantasy, psychology, and philosophy, offering a deep, thought-provoking exploration of what it means to grow up, find yourself, and navigate a world where the line between fantasy and reality is constantly shifting.
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani is a unique fantasy series that turns traditional fairy tales on their head by blending familiar elements of good versus evil with a fresh, imaginative twist. The series revolves around two best friends, Sophie and Agatha, who are unexpectedly whisked away to the School for Good and Evil, a magical academy where children are trained to become either fairy tale heroes or villains. However, things don’t go as expected—Sophie, who dreams of becoming a princess, is placed in the School for Evil, while Agatha, who is dark and brooding, is placed in the School for Good. This setup kicks off a story that challenges stereotypes, explores complex moral dilemmas, and subverts traditional notions of what it means to be good or evil.
A Magical School with a Twist:
At the heart of The School for Good and Evil is the magical institution itself, a sprawling castle split into two halves: one for training heroes (princes and princesses) and one for training villains (witches and monsters). The school is set up to teach students how to fulfill their fairy tale destinies, with Good students learning about beauty, bravery, and kindness, while Evil students study cruelty, curses, and how to embrace their darkest instincts.
However, the story immediately subverts expectations. Sophie, who believes she is destined for the glamorous life of a princess, struggles to accept her placement in the School for Evil, while Agatha, who has always seen herself as an outcast, is baffled by her enrollment in the School for Good. This role reversal becomes a central theme of the series, with both characters questioning their identities, the nature of good and evil, and the rigid roles that society often forces upon people.
Friendship and Identity:
At its core, The School for Good and Evil is about the friendship between Sophie and Agatha. The bond between these two unlikely friends is tested as they navigate the challenges of their new roles. Sophie, who initially seems shallow and self-centered, begins to wrestle with the darker aspects of her personality, while Agatha, who appears cynical and detached, learns that there is more to goodness than surface appearances.
The series dives deeply into questions of identity and transformation, with both girls evolving as they are forced to confront their true selves. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that neither Good nor Evil is as straightforward as it seems, and the lines between the two blur as the characters grow. Their journey of self-discovery is emotionally resonant, as they grapple with what it means to be true to themselves and whether they can defy the roles that fate has assigned them.
Subverting Fairy Tale Tropes:
One of the most distinctive aspects of The School for Good and Evil is how it deconstructs classic fairy tale archetypes. Instead of simply portraying Good and Evil as two opposing forces, the series examines how both sides can be flawed. Heroes are not always pure, and villains are not always wicked. Through Sophie and Agatha’s experiences, the books explore the complexity of morality, suggesting that everyone has the capacity for both good and evil.
Soman Chainani masterfully plays with familiar fairy tale elements—the handsome princes, wicked witches, enchanted creatures—but imbues them with modern sensibilities. Characters who seem destined to follow a traditional fairy tale arc find themselves questioning those paths. The story challenges gender norms, stereotypes of beauty, and even the concept of “happily ever after.” Instead of falling into predictable patterns, the series keeps readers guessing, offering surprising twists that make you rethink what it means to be a hero or a villain.
Action, Magic, and Humor:
In addition to its thoughtful exploration of morality, The School for Good and Evil is filled with fast-paced action, whimsical magic, and plenty of humor. The world of the series is richly imagined, with magical creatures, enchanted objects, and iconic fairy tale landscapes. Each book in the series is filled with epic battles, magical duels, and dramatic plot twists, making it a thrilling ride for readers who enjoy high-stakes fantasy.
Despite the serious themes the series tackles, Chainani’s writing is infused with humor and wit. Sophie’s vanity and over-the-top reactions to her situation often provide comic relief, while Agatha’s deadpan cynicism adds a contrasting, sharp humor to their dynamic. The humorous tone helps balance the darker, more intense moments of the story, creating a world that is both enchanting and grounded in reality.
The Greater Conflict:
As the series progresses, the stakes are raised beyond the walls of the school. The magical world itself is thrown into turmoil, as Sophie and Agatha’s actions have far-reaching consequences that ripple across both the School for Good and Evil and the wider fairy tale world. Themes of destiny, free will, and the power of storytelling come to the forefront as the characters must confront not only their personal fates but the very nature of good and evil in their world.
The story evolves from being a tale about two girls in a magical school to a larger exploration of how the roles we play in life—whether good or evil—are shaped by forces beyond our control, and whether it’s possible to break free from those expectations.
Why It’s Like Harry Potter:
The School for Good and Evil will appeal to readers who loved Harry Potter for its magical school setting, the emphasis on friendship, and the idea of characters discovering hidden powers and destinies. Like Harry Potter, the series features a group of young protagonists learning about magic while facing off against dark forces. However, Chainani’s series brings its own unique twist by blending traditional fairy tale tropes with modern moral complexity, offering a more nuanced look at what it means to be a hero or a villain.
The books are perfect for readers who enjoy immersive, magical worlds with deeply layered characters and who are looking for a story that challenges the conventional boundaries of good and evil. Through its exploration of friendship, identity, and the consequences of power, The School for Good and Evil offers a fresh and engaging fantasy adventure with broad appeal.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman is a richly complex and philosophical fantasy series that explores deep themes of freedom, knowledge, and the struggle against authoritarian control through a story full of adventure, parallel universes, and magical creatures. It blends elements of fantasy, theology, and science in a way that challenges traditional views of good and evil, making it a deeply layered and thought-provoking series that stands out within the genre.
The series, which begins with The Golden Compass (also known as Northern Lights), follows the journey of Lyra Belacqua, a curious and brave young girl who grows up in an alternate version of Oxford. Her world is similar to ours but with key differences: in it, every human has a “dæmon,” a physical manifestation of their soul that takes the form of an animal and changes shape throughout childhood before settling on a permanent form in adulthood. This unique relationship between human and dæmon is central to the series, reflecting themes of self-discovery and personal identity.
A Journey Through Multiple Worlds:
Lyra’s adventure begins when she overhears a conversation that reveals a grand conspiracy involving her uncle, Lord Asriel, and a mysterious substance called Dust. From there, she is thrust into an epic journey that spans multiple parallel worlds, including her own, our world, and several others. As Lyra navigates these worlds, she uncovers truths about the universe, challenging the oppressive forces of the ruling Magisterium, a powerful and dogmatic religious organization that seeks to control knowledge and suppress free thought.
Her journey is joined by an array of fascinating characters, including the rugged Texan aeronaut Lee Scoresby, the armored polar bear warrior Iorek Byrnison, and the enigmatic witch Serafina Pekkala. Each character plays a vital role in shaping Lyra’s understanding of the world and her eventual destiny.
Themes of Knowledge, Authority, and Rebellion:
At the heart of His Dark Materials is the battle between free will and authoritarian control. The Magisterium, which wields religious and political power, seeks to suppress the truth about Dust, which they view as dangerous and heretical. Dust, a mysterious elementary particle that is central to the plot, represents consciousness, knowledge, and the human capacity for wisdom and moral choice. As the series progresses, Dust becomes a symbol of human freedom and the desire to question established doctrines.
Lyra’s quest, and later that of Will Parry (a boy from our world who becomes her close companion), becomes a rebellion against this authority. Together, they uncover profound truths about the nature of reality, existence, and the role of the mysterious beings known as angels, who play a pivotal part in the cosmic struggle for freedom and knowledge. The series challenges traditional notions of good and evil, depicting the conflict as one between oppressive institutions and those who seek to foster enlightenment and autonomy.
The Golden Compass and Alethiometer:
One of the most iconic elements of the series is the alethiometer, or golden compass, a truth-telling device that Lyra learns to master. The alethiometer provides Lyra with cryptic answers to her questions, guiding her on her journey. Its use is symbolic of the broader theme of seeking truth in a world filled with deception and hidden agendas. Lyra’s ability to interpret the alethiometer sets her apart, making her uniquely qualified to play a key role in the unfolding battle between the forces of freedom and control.
The alethiometer also emphasizes the importance of wisdom, intuition, and moral clarity, as its answers are not always literal or obvious. Lyra must learn to trust herself and her instincts, a theme that resonates throughout the series as she grows from a headstrong child into a young woman who begins to understand the weight of her actions and choices.
Exploring Parallel Worlds:
As Lyra’s story unfolds, the series expands beyond her world into a vast multiverse, where each universe operates under its own rules and laws. The discovery of the Subtle Knife—a tool that allows its wielder to cut through the fabric of reality and travel between worlds—opens up even greater possibilities for exploration. Will Parry, who becomes the bearer of the knife, adds another dimension to the story, as he and Lyra navigate both their personal growth and the larger cosmic battle that surrounds them.
The existence of parallel worlds allows Pullman to explore philosophical questions about reality, destiny, and free will, offering readers a grand, sweeping narrative that touches on everything from the nature of consciousness to the ethics of power. The series challenges readers to question authority, think critically about dogma, and consider the complexities of moral choices in an uncertain world.
Challenging Traditional Ideas of Religion and Authority:
One of the most controversial and thought-provoking aspects of His Dark Materials is its critique of organized religion and authoritarian institutions. The Magisterium, which serves as the series’ primary antagonist, is portrayed as a tyrannical force that seeks to control human thought and suppress curiosity. The series presents a clear rebellion against the idea that any single authority should have absolute control over knowledge or morality.
This critique of religious authority has sparked considerable debate and discussion, as Pullman uses the fantasy setting to explore deeper philosophical and theological questions. The books suggest that the pursuit of knowledge and understanding is a noble and essential human endeavor, one that must be defended against those who would seek to stifle it.
The Relationship Between Lyra and Will:
Central to the emotional core of the series is the relationship between Lyra and Will. Their bond grows over the course of the books from an uneasy partnership into a deep and profound connection. Both characters are searching for their place in the world, and through their shared experiences, they learn about love, sacrifice, and the importance of standing up for what they believe in.
Their relationship is deeply moving, and the choices they must make—particularly as they confront the consequences of their roles in the cosmic battle—add layers of emotional depth to the series. Lyra and Will’s connection serves as a counterpoint to the grand philosophical themes of the books, grounding the story in the personal struggles of two young people coming of age in a tumultuous world.
Why It’s Like Harry Potter:
His Dark Materials shares some surface-level similarities with Harry Potter, particularly in its coming-of-age narrative and the presence of a hidden magical world. Both series feature young protagonists who must navigate their way through powerful and oppressive forces while uncovering the truth about their roles in a larger, epic struggle. However, His Dark Materials offers a much more philosophical and introspective take on these themes, with a focus on exploring complex moral and metaphysical questions.
Where Harry Potter is about friendship, loyalty, and courage in the face of evil, His Dark Materials delves deeper into questions about free will, knowledge, and the role of authority in shaping society. It’s a series that appeals to readers who enjoy immersive, fantastical worlds but who also want to engage with deeper questions about existence, morality, and the human spirit.
In His Dark Materials, Pullman creates a rich, multi-layered narrative that challenges readers to think critically about the world around them, making it a compelling and thought-provoking journey for anyone who loves fantasy with depth and meaning.