10 Books to Read If You Loved Harry Potter Growing Up

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Harry Potter has left a void in our souls ever since the series ended. The books impacted millions worldwide, they can’t seem to let go of Hogwarts, and they’re still passionately re-reading the series over and over to re-live the magic and experience nostalgia.

Harry Potter has left a void in our souls ever since the series ended. The books impacted millions worldwide, they can’t seem to let go of Hogwarts, and they’re still passionately re-reading the series over and over to re-live the magic and experience the nostalgia.

However unbeatable Harry Potter’s legacy may seem, there exist many books that are just as charming!

Here are 10 books that are as engaging as Harry Potter and satisfy your need for magic and fantasy…

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

This fascinating trilogy was recently adapted into a movie, and it’s about a child, Lyra, who lives in a parallel world where human souls take the form of animals called daemons. After learning about a mysterious particle called “Dust”, Lyra embarks on an adventure, confronting witches, armored polar bears and more!

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

In a world inhabited by demons and shadowhunters—who are demon-slaying warriors, teenager Clay Fray runs into shadowhunter Jace and gets sucked into his world. Her mother gets kidnapped and Clary herself gets attacked, she must dig in deeper to discover what’s going on and what she has to do. Why could demons possible want with an average girl and her mother?

This book combines the magical hidden world of Harry Potter with the teenage drama of Buffy, and there’s even hints of Star Wars as well. A captivating read that’s sure to leave you wanting more (which is perfect since there’s currently six books in the series).

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives without a warning, and within it is the breathtaking Le Cirque des Rêves, which only opens at night. During the event, a survival game takes place between two competitors, Celia and Marco, and only one has to be left standing.

The characters in this book are enchanting as well. Multifaceted and morally ambiguous, you don’t have a full understanding of the workings inside their mind, making this book hard to put down.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bargudo

The story takes place in Ketterdam, a bustling city hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price. Enter the criminal Kaz Brekker. When he is offered a huge opportunity that can make him extremely rich, he decides to take advantage of it, but he must build a crew, and the following join him:

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy who is known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

You will fall in love with these characters and their story in a way that’s hard to explain. This book will leave you at the edge of your seat and the story will never leave you (I know that’s a bold statement to make, but I stand behind it!). I guarantee you will order the sequel before you finish this one.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Could you imagine going about your life normally. You have an apartment, a job you don’t hate, a fiance you love; you’re a perfectly normal person. Nothing quite remarkable or extraordinary about you. Then one day, you find a bleeding girl on the sidewalk. In an attempt to help her, you’re entire world changes…

A groundbreaking book in the fantasy genre, it tells of the story of a young businessman named Richard Mayhew, who discovered another bizarre version of London under its streets, which is inhabited by monsters, murderers, knights, angels, saints and more. The destiny that awaits Richard down there will set him on an unforgettable journey…

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

This story is also set in London, though not just one but many; we have Red London, White London, Grey London, and the haunting Black London.

Well is a magician with a special ability that enables him to travel across all Londons. Well uses this talent with irresponsibility and carelessness by smuggling things between the four locations. One day in Grey London, he meets a girl who tries to rob him then saves him. Together, they must set out on an adventure full of magic, danger, and survival.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

This book is a classic fantasy series that should not be ignored. The story is about a twelve-year-old boy named Artemis who is a billionaire, a criminal, and a genius mastermind. He kidnaps a fairy and demands to exchange her for gold. But little did he know, his actions will lead him into dangerous situations full of twists and turn throughout the entire journey.

Note: This book is free to read if you have a Kindle Unlimited membership! If you aren’t a Kindle Unlimited member, the first 30 days are FREE and it includes up to 10 books! How cool is that?!

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

The story follows Meggie and her father, who works as a bookbinder.

One night, Meggie’s father decided to read aloud a book titled Inkheart, as a result, an evil ruler from faraway shows out of nowhere and into their feet. Soon they discover that Inkheart has the power to bring fictional characters into the real world by reading the book aloud. But for every character that comes, a real person has to go. Meggie and her father are forced to get all the characters back to where they came from, however, the characters do not wish to go without putting up a fight first!

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Quentin Coldwater, who has had a big obsession with a series of children’s fantasy books, unexpectedly gets accepted into an elite and secret college of magic. He investigates and discovers the truth regarding his beloved childhood novels and he must stand against what he learned, which has turned into a very dark and dangerous reality.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

History scholar Diana Bishop discovers an alchemical manuscript in an Oxford library. Diana, being an old descendant from a long line of witches, does not wish to get into sorcery or anything related to it. However, she is soon challenged by her recent discovery, and a world filled with witches, daemons, and vampires come to reality from a void opened by the manuscript in Diana’s hands stand in the library. With the help of a vampire geneticist, she must solve the problems presented in her hands that only she was meant to solve in the first place.

These 10 books are mostly magical fantasy series with an occasional young adult, action, urban fantasy, and romance. They are, same as Harry Potter, demanding to be read, loved, and then re-read again! Each story presenting impactful characters with engaging storylines that will shock and twist at your emotions.

So, who knows! Maybe your next favorite book or character is already on this list.