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Be honest: are you still waiting for the Hogwarts acceptance? The little kid inside of you secretly wants to join Harry Potter and his team on an adventure and save the world from evil. There is no doubt that these book series, as well as the movie adaptations, have influenced many generations worldwide; even grown-up Muggles are fascinated.
But are there books like Harry Potter that feature magical schools, coming-of-age narratives, and weird, magical creatures? Indeed, this article includes young adult book series with exciting plots, characters, and are full of magic. Some fantasy books have even become Amazon bestsellers, which proves the universal appeal of magical worlds.
Don't waste any more time — grab a wand, hop on a hippogriff, and prepare yourself for the adventure of a lifetime. And don't forget — even if the monsters and creatures from fantasy series aren't real, the feelings and morals behind them are 100% real.
To better understand the themes of friendship, evil, kindness, and justice, you can use Headway. Our daily growth app, which features over 2,000 nonfiction summaries, will help you go beyond epic battles and magic spells.
Download Headway and delve deep into the themes of courage, kindness, and personal sacrifice!
Five books similar to Harry Potter: Quick answer
If you're craving more books like Harry Potter, check out these five reads that will take you on a thrilling ride:
'The Magicians' by Lev Grossman — A young man finds out that magic is, in fact, real — but it is anything but beautiful. Dark forces await him, along with an inner battle.
'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' by Rick Riordan — Percy discovers he is a demigod, with gods, monsters, and the knowledge of his legacy awaiting him.
'The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel' by Michael Scott — Two teenagers are pulled into the world of magic and immortality when they discover an ancient secret.
'The Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss — A powerful figure named Kvothe recounts his life and narration as he journeys from a tragic past to a quest for revenge and knowledge.
'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins — Katniss Everdeen finds herself in a battle for survival during a deadly competition, which puts all her courage and love for the people she loves most to the test.
And this is only a sneak peek: continue reading to know the full list with overviews of each story. Grab a free reading journal template to imprint the best quotes and your thoughts.
11 books like Harry Potter: More spells, more drama, more magic!
Harry Potter fans will love these picks: check out the 11 best books that feature heroic main characters, time travel, and magic worlds!
1. 'The Magicians' by Lev Grossman
A group of students thinks they're headed for a magical adventure when they discover that magic is real. But life at Brakebills isn't all spells and wonder. With dark forces and their own personal demons at play, can they find meaning in a world that feels a lot less magical than they expected?
Genre tags: Fantasy, adventure, YA
Goodreads: 4.2/5 stars (average series rating), 48k+ reviews
TV adaptation: Yes, the series 'The Magicians' aired on Syfy, following the characters as they navigate both magical realms and their personal struggles.
2. 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson always thought he was just a regular kid — until he found out he's a demigod. Suddenly, he's dealing with gods, monsters, and prophecies he didn't ask for. Can he save the world while just trying to survive his teenage years?
Genre tags: Fantasy, mythology, middle grade
Goodreads: 4.35/5 stars (average series rating), 332k+ reviews
TV adaptation: Yes, 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' has been adapted into a series on Disney+, which follows Percy on a quest through the world of Greek mythology.
3. 'His Dark Materials (The Golden Compass)' by Philip Pullman
Lyra's world turns upside down when she stumbles upon a secret that pulls her into a dangerous adventure. As she tries to rescue kidnapped children and uncover the truth about the mysterious Dust, will she be able to outwit the dark forces chasing her?
Genre tags: Fantasy, adventure, YA
Goodreads: 4.09/5 stars (average series rating), 67k+ reviews
TV adaptation: Yes, 'His Dark Materials' has been adapted as a successful HBO/BBC series, bringing Lyra and her daemon to life.
4. 'A Discovery of Witches' by Deborah Harkness
Diana Bishop is a witch who's spent her life avoiding magic, but she accidentally discovers an enchanted manuscript that could change everything. As she gets caught up in a world of vampires, daemons, and witches, will she be able to survive the danger it brings?
Genre tags: Fantasy, romance, paranormal
Goodreads: 4.02/5 stars (average series rating), 94k+ reviews
TV adaptation: Yes, 'A Discovery of Witches' was adapted as a series, which depicts Diana's journey through the world of magic.
5. 'Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia)' by C.S. Lewis
The Pevensie siblings find themselves in the magical land of Narnia, where they're thrust into a battle to defeat the evil White Witch. With talking animals and epic adventures around every corner, will they be able to save Narnia from her grip?
Genre tags: Fantasy, adventure, classic
Goodreads: 4.02/5 stars (average series rating), 131k+ reviews
TV adaptation: Yes, 'The Chronicles of Narnia' has been adapted into several films, the more popular being 'The Lion,' 'The Witch,' and 'The Wardrobe.'
6. 'The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel' by Michael Scott
Twins Sophie and Josh are pulled into a world of magic and alchemy when they meet the legendary Nicholas Flamel. As they try to protect an ancient book from dark forces, will they be able to change history — or will evil win?
Genre tags: Fantasy, adventure, magic
Goodreads: 4.1/5 stars (average series rating), 21+ reviews
TV adaptation: No, while discussions have been held surrounding adaptations, no adaptations have been made at this time.
7. 'The Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe's life is a whirlwind of tragedy, magic, and mystery. From his tragic childhood to his rise as a powerful figure, his journey is anything but ordinary. As he seeks answers about his past, will he find redemption — or will his quest for power consume him?
Genre tags: Fantasy, epic, adventure
Goodreads: 4.5/5 stars, with 106k + reviews
TV adaptation: It was previously being developed at Showtime with Lin-Manuel Miranda, but it is officially no longer in development and is instead back in early development.
8. 'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins
Set in a dystopian future, Katniss Everdeen is thrust into the deadly Hunger Games, a competition where teens are forced to fight to the death. While navigating the games, will she be able to retain her identity, or will survival eclipse everything?
Genre tags: Dystopian, sci-fi, survival
Goodreads: 4.27/5 stars, with 853k+ reviews
TV adaptation: Yes, 'The Hunger Games' series was adapted into a highly successful film franchise, starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss.
9. 'The Alchemyst' by Michael Scott
Nicholas Flamel, an immortal alchemist, teams up with two teenagers to protect a magical book from dark forces. As they race to stop an ancient evil from being unleashed, can they outsmart their enemies and keep the world from falling into chaos?
Genre tags: Fantasy, adventure, mythology
Goodreads: 3.86/5 stars, with 9.7k+ reviews
TV adaptation: No, but there have been rumors about a possible TV series or film adaptation.
*While 'The Alchemyst' is the first book of 'The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel' series described above, it deserves its own mention; it kicks off the adventure, introduces characters, and sets the overall magical tone for the series.
10. 'The Mortal Instruments' by Cassandra Clare
Clary Fray's life is turned upside down when she discovers that she's part of a hidden world of Shadowhunters — humans with angel blood who protect the world from demons. As she uncovers family secrets and faces dangerous enemies, will she find a way to protect those she loves?
Genre tags: Fantasy, urban fantasy, romance
Goodreads: 4.09/5 stars, with 230k+ reviews
TV adaptation: Yes, 'The Mortal Instruments' was adapted into the TV series 'Shadowhunters,' which ran for three seasons.
11. 'Howl's Moving Castle' by Diana Wynne Jones
Sophie's life is turned upside down when a witch puts a curse on her, transforming her into an elderly woman. During her adventure to break the curse, she finds herself in Howl's Moving Castle and meets the quirky wizard. Will they be able to break the curse, or will they both be stuck in some magic forever?
Genre tags: Fantasy, adventure, romance
Goodreads: 4.33/5 stars, with 24k+ reviews
TV adaptation: Yes, 'Howl's Moving Castle' was adapted into a stunning animated film by Studio Ghibli, directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Go beyond with Headway: Five books that explore courage, friendship, and self-discovery
Fictional stories are wonderful — they transport us to enchanting realms and epic adventures. But aside from the magic, the author is imparting a deeper lesson about bravery, friendship, and self-discovery. With Headway, you can explore those same universal themes through real stories and insights from nonfiction summaries.
Below are five powerful reads that capture the same spirit of growth and self-discovery you enjoy in fiction — only these stories took place in the real world:
'Rising Strong' by Brené Brown – A note on how true courage starts when we fall, get back up, and learn from our failures.
'Mud, Sweat & Tears' by Bear Grylls – A narrative of mental toughness and steadfastness through difficulties and challenges, and how adventure and difficulty help to shape us.
'Missing Each Other' by Edward S. Brodkin & Ashley A. Pallathra – A thoughtful exploration into the realm of human connection and why we so often miss one another; it takes courage and empathy to genuinely understand.
'Everything I Know About Love' by Dolly Alderton – A humorous, candid view about love, growing up, and the friendships that shape and form our identity.
'An Invisible Thread' by Laura Schroff & Alex Treniowski — A true story that will warm your heart, showing how one small act of kindness and compassion can touch and change two lives forever.
These books do not have dragons or spells, but they speak to the elements of all great stories: courage, friendship, and self-discovery, reminding us that real life can be just as magical.
Bring a little everyday magic into your life with Headway!
Books like Harry Potter and many other magical stories endure because they teach us about courage, friendship, and the power of self-discovery. Headway allows you to capture this sense of wonder in reality: our 15-minute book summaries also work like magic, but for personal growth and development.
Create your reading goals, track your performance, line up achievements, and receive bite-sized wisdom in just a few minutes a day. With Headway, learning feels effortless.
Download the Headway app and jump behind the scenes of those magical worlds!
Frequently asked questions about books like Harry Potter
Which book is most similar to Harry Potter?
If you're missing Hogwarts, the book we'd recommend is 'The Magicians' by Lev Grossman. It tells the story of students at a secret magic school where the lessons — and the consequences — are much darker. It retains the same sense of wonder, and growing up, but as a more mature and emotional take on a magical story.
What books have a similar writing style to J.K. Rowling?
If you love Rowling's humor, world-building, and emotional gravity, you will enjoy Rick Riordan's 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' and Jonathan Stroud's 'The Amulet of Samarkand.' Both books venture into imagination and adventure with real emotions and wit; the kind of storytelling that you can convince yourself magic could really be just around the corner.
Did Harry Potter show signs of any mental health struggles?
Yes. Harry's experiences provide a real emotional struggle. He is exhibiting trauma, grief, and anxiety; well, symptoms related to trauma, loss, and danger. He learns to cope and heal through friendship, courage, and hope — reminding readers that everyone struggles (yes, even heroes), even though they become stronger.
What should I read for kids who like the Harry Potter series?
Kids who liked Harry Potter will really enjoy reading Rick Riordan's 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians,' Jessica Townsend's 'Nevermoor,' or Soman Chainani's 'The School for Good and Evil.' There are numerous enchanting journeys featuring brave young characters, humorous escapades, and themes of friendship, bravery, and self-confidence.
What are the 3 D's in Harry Potter?
The "3 D's" are everything a wizard needs to master to Apparate: Destination, Determination, and Deliberation. In simple terms: know exactly where you are going, take time to focus, and finally make sure to act with care. If you mess up any of these, you could end up "splinched" — halfway between here and there!
