Best Books Like Harry Potter
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Here are five of the best books like Harry Potter so you can start reading your next adventure.
1. Amelia Moon & the Solstice Spectacular by RJ Roark
If you are looking for the best books like Harry Potter, Book One in the Amelia Moon series follows the adventures of Amelia Moon, a precocious 12-year-old girl from a sleepy Western town where nothing ever happens. Or so she thinks. Follow along as Amelia and her best friend Veyla Plumb discover their hometown of Sundance, Wyoming is hiding closely guarded secrets about it's past –– along with the surprising role Amelia's family plays in the town's history. It's a fast-paced, tech-savvy blend of ancient civilizations and modern science fiction, combining wit, adventure, and a hero who starts off with no idea of her destiny.
2. "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
This series follows the adventures of Artemis Fowl, a brilliant young criminal mastermind, who discovers a hidden world of fairies and other mythical creatures. It's a fast-paced, tech-savvy blend of magic and science fiction, combining wit, adventure, and a hero who starts off as an antihero but grows throughout the series.
3. "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" by Rick Riordan
This series reimagines Greek mythology in the modern world, following Percy Jackson, a demigod who embarks on quests involving gods, monsters, and ancient legends. The books are action-packed, humorous, and filled with complex friendships and family dynamics, much like Harry Potter but with a mythological twist.
4. "His Dark Materials" by Philip Pullman
Set in a series of parallel worlds, this trilogy follows Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry as they navigate a universe filled with witches, armored polar bears, and a mysterious substance called "Dust." It’s a deeper and more philosophical series with themes of free will, the nature of the soul, and the battle between science and religion, all set within a magical, yet intellectually stimulating world.
5. "The School for Good and Evil" by Soman Chainani
In this series, two friends find themselves attending a school where children are trained to become fairy tale heroes and villains. It explores themes of identity, morality, and friendship, with a whimsical and darkly humorous tone. The interplay of good and evil, and the school setting, will feel familiar, yet the narrative turns the classic fairy tale tropes on their head.
1. Amelia Moon & the Solstice Spectacular
Why You’ll Enjoy It:
If Harry Potter’s coming-of-age journey and discovery of hidden family history resonated with you, then you will feel right at home with Amelia Moon’s story. Growing up in a small Western USA town much like tike the sleepy world of Little Whinging, Amelia finds herself dropped into a world she didn’t know existed—one in which she is a central figure because of his birthright. She must come to terms –– and quickly –– with the secrets of her town, and her family. The series emphasizes friendships, much like Harry’s relationships with Ron and Hermione, with Amelia, Veyla, and the Professor forming a tight-knit group that mirrors the trio dynamic.
The World-Building:
RJ Roark’s world takes the mythology of ancient civilizations and places it right in the heart of modern America. The quiet western town Sundance, Wyoming is not the sleepy little town it pretends to be. There are secrets both above and below with very important ties to the past and future. This creative blend of myth and modern life offers a sense of discovery similar to Harry’s exploration of the magical world but through a different mythological lens. The small-town settings where secrets are hidden in plain –– and not so visible –– sight, gives off Hogwarts-like vibes, with its unique factions and emphasis on camaraderie and learning.
2. "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
Why You’ll Enjoy It:
If you were drawn to Harry Potter because of its complex characters, Artemis Fowl will captivate you with its titular character’s unique arc. Unlike Harry, who starts off relatively innocent and noble, Artemis is introduced as a morally ambiguous genius—essentially a teenage villain. His growth throughout the series, from a calculating mastermind to someone more compassionate and heroic, mirrors the deeper character development you see in Harry Potter, where motivations become more nuanced as the story progresses. The series also balances magic with modern technology, creating a unique blend of folklore and science fiction, offering a refreshing twist on the magical world.
The World-Building:
Artemis Fowl introduces readers to a high-tech underworld of fairies, centaurs, and dwarves, which contrasts with the medieval-inspired magic of Harry Potter. This hidden society exists parallel to the human world, much like the wizarding world coexists with the Muggles. But instead of the traditional fantasy, this world feels more like a covert intelligence agency. The magical creatures aren’t just whimsical—they’re organized, tech-savvy, and have their own laws, governments, and conflicts. This complex world-building, filled with hidden rules and secret hierarchies, will likely appeal to your love for the richly detailed universe of Harry Potter.
3. "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" by Rick Riordan
Why You’ll Enjoy It:
If you connected with Harry Potter's journey of self-discovery and the awakening of hidden powers, Percy Jackson offers a similar appeal. Like Harry, Percy finds himself unexpectedly immersed in a secret world where his heritage makes him a pivotal figure. He must grapple with his new reality as the son of a Greek god, much as Harry had to embrace his identity as "The Boy Who Lived." The series also highlights strong friendships, with Percy, Annabeth, and Grover forming a close-knit group that echoes the bond between Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
The World-Building:
Riordan’s world infuses ancient Greek mythology into the fabric of modern-day America, giving familiar myths a fresh, contemporary twist. Mount Olympus is perched above the Empire State Building, and the Underworld is reached through Los Angeles. This imaginative merging of myth and the modern world provides a sense of discovery, much like Harry's exploration of the magical realm, but viewed through the lens of mythology. The demigod training camp, Camp Half-Blood, evokes a similar feel to Hogwarts, with its distinct groups, camaraderie, and focus on learning and growth.
4. "His Dark Materials" by Philip Pullman
Why You’ll Enjoy It:
His Dark Materials is a series that, like Harry Potter, grows in complexity and maturity as it progresses. Where Harry Potter touched on themes of love, death, and morality, His Dark Materials delves even deeper into philosophical ideas, such as free will, the nature of the soul, and authority versus rebellion. If you appreciated Harry Potter for its underlying moral messages and the way it grapples with power and choice, Pullman’s trilogy will engage you on an even more thought-provoking level. It pushes readers to question authority, religion, and the structure of the universe itself.
The World-Building:
The world of His Dark Materials is richly layered and incredibly detailed. Each human has a "dæmon," a physical manifestation of their soul in animal form, which adds a fascinating layer to character development and relationships. The idea of parallel worlds adds a dimension that goes beyond the magical boundaries of Harry Potter, offering a multiverse with varying laws of physics, cultures, and beings. The world-building in this series feels even more vast and philosophical, making it an immersive and intellectually stimulating journey for fans who enjoy deeply constructed universes.
5. "The School for Good and Evil" by Soman Chainani
Why You’ll Enjoy It:
Like Harry Potter, this series begins in a magical school setting, but here, the twist is that students are trained to become fairy tale heroes or villains. If you enjoyed the Hogwarts experience with its houses, magical education, and interpersonal dynamics, you’ll find a lot to love in the School for Good and Evil. The duality of Good vs. Evil is more pronounced and examined in greater depth, pushing readers to reconsider the nature of those concepts. The interplay between the two sides echoes some of the moral complexities in Harry Potter, where characters like Snape and Dumbledore defy simple categorization.
The World-Building:
Chainani’s world is steeped in fairy tale lore but turns familiar tropes on their head. The school itself is divided into Good and Evil, and the physical and social dynamics of the two sides create a fascinating dichotomy. The characters, much like in Harry Potter, have to navigate this magical education while figuring out their true identities—whether they really belong on the side they were assigned. The school’s structure, hierarchy, and challenges will evoke a sense of nostalgia for the trials Harry faced at Hogwarts, but with a fairy tale twist that makes it feel fresh and unique.
Each of these series takes aspects of what makes Harry Potter special—whether it’s the magical world-building, the deep friendships, or the personal growth of the characters—and reimagines them in original and compelling ways. They offer new perspectives, different mythologies, and distinct emotional journeys while still providing that sense of wonder and discovery that Harry Potter fans often seek in other books.
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