Books to check out if you loved Harry Potter.
Are you a Potterhead but not restricted to just JK Rowling’s famed franchise? Do you want to explore more such titles in the fantasy genre that will reel you into the world of magic just like the Harry Potter series did? Then, do check out the following works which might have the same effect:
1) The Golden Compass
Philip Pullman pulls readers into a world of talking animals called Daemons, witch clans, and armor-clad polar bears in the first installment of his Dark Materials trilogy. The story revolves around 11-year-old Lyra Belacqua, who sets off on an epic adventure to the far North to rescue her friend from child snatchers called Gobblers.
2) The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan
Perseus Jackson, aka Percy, is a twelve-year-old who is dyslexic with ADHD and thus considered an outcast. All this changes when one of his teachers takes on the form of an ancient Greek spirit and attacks him! It isn’t long after this incident that he discovers that he is a demigod and son of Poseidon. He then sets off on an epic quest across the States to retrieve Zeus’s stolen lightning bolts and prevent a war that is brewing between the Gods.
3) Neverwhere
by Neil Gaiman
After average businessman Richard Mayhew falls through the cracks of a sidewalk, he lands in London Bellow, a mysterious underworld. In order to return to the real world, he has to battle and survive among monsters, murderers, and angels alike.
4) The Alchemyst
If you’re familiar with Nicholas Flamel from the Harry Potter series, then this 6 book series carries the story of the famous immortal Alchemyst forward. He is joined by teens Sophie and Josh Newman, who help him try to obtain the Codex spellbook, which contains an elixir that can bring about the end of the world after it is stolen by Dr. John Dee, a master necromancer. This is part of the ‘Secrets of Immortal Nicholas Flamel’ series.
5) The Night Circus
Every night, the nocturnal circus, ‘Le Cirque des Rêves’, rolls into town. It features fantastic attractions such as the Wishing Trees and a pool of tears, dueling magicians, Celia and Marco.
6) A Discovery of Witches
Young historian Diana Bishop finds herself preparing for a supernatural war after discovering an ancient magical manual at Oxford library and discovers that she is a witch by heritage. She also teams up with the brooding vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont as the ravaging war continues. This is part of the All Souls trilogy. There is also a 2018 TV series based on it starring Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer in the titular roles.
7) Pennyroyal Academy series
by M.A. Larson
Young Evie joins Pennyroyal Academy, where kids are trained as princesses and Knights. Not just any princesses, but bad-ass princesses who can fight off witches and dragons. So like a royal version of the Harry Potter universe, if you think about it.
8) Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series
by Ransom Riggs
This book and its movie adaptation (by Tim Burton) is one of my favorite in the fantasy genre as not only does it come with haunting and in-depth descriptions of each unique character, but it also features vintage photos to elevate the reading experience. It revolves around 16-year-old Jacob, who stumbles upon an orphanage for peculiar kids such as a girl with two mouths, a lighter than air, and has to keep herself grounded with special lead shoes that don’t float away, and many more.
9) Akata Witch series
The protagonist of this series has been affectionately titled as the ‘Nigerian Harry Potter’. It revolves around 12-year-old Sunny, who is African but has more albino-like features, and as a result, she cannot go out in the sun much, which sucks since she is an avid footballer and athlete. Her life changes for the better when she discovers that she is a free agent with magical powers, and as a result, she takes to studying magic and learns to change reality. She must also join forces with more magical kids like herself to stop a career criminal in his tracks before he can use his magic to wreak havoc!
10) Furthermore
by Tahereh Mafi
Growing up in the colorful world of Ferenwood was difficult for Alice as she is bullied for her fair pale skin and milk-white hair. She is considered as an outcast and thus longs to run away to the mythical Furthermore to find her father and get to the bottom of his sudden disappearance. She is helped on this ambitious endeavor by an annoying boy named Oliver.
I hope this list helps you stave off the boredom and satisfy your magical cravings! Do share it, and feel free to browse around our blog for more such gems!
