What to read after Harry Potter
I am the biggest Harry Potter fan ever. I’ve loved the series since I was seven years old. It’s sad when the series ends in your life, I feel your pain and here are my post-Harry-Potter suggestions to you guys. They are in no particular order… and I hope you soon find your new bookish obsession!
Magisterium by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare
This book has gotten a bit of a scolding for being “too similar” to Harry Potter. Personally, I see similarities - but there are dozens of books that are “similar” to Harry Potter in some way or another! The Magisterium series is written by two of my very favourite authors and introduces a new world to adore. The school it takes place at is different from Hogwarts (very different…) but it follows three new friends as they learn how to use magic and how to fight against their ultimate enemy. I love this series and really recommend it - but if you get touchy about something being “too like” HP, maybe you should avoid it (though you’ll be missing out, in my opinion!). It’s aimed at nine-year-olds, so younger HP fans rejoice!
Read a member review of Magisterium: The Iron Trial by Rosa.Reader
Grisha by Leigh Bardugo (teen read)
I adore this series so much. It’s set in a Tsarist Russia-inspired world, where beings with magic (the Grisha) are seen as being powerful and even, in some cases, as nobility. Alina Starkov is just a normal orphan mapmaker for the First Army – until she discovers she has a rare, unique power that could save her kingdom… The Grisha Trilogy is literally one of my favourite ever series: it is set in one of the most amazing, beautiful and intricate worlds, one I love to pieces. The writing is beautiful but also modern, the characters complicated, real and often very funny. It’s a brilliant follow-up to Harry Potter - it’s an epic fantasy, but so beautiful, real and vibrant that it feels more like your own memory, not some new world you need to get to know. For me, it feels almost as much like home as Hogwarts does. I mean, there are even houses, sort of. There are different kinds of magic that a Grisha can use! This is definitely a must-read for teenaged HP lovers!
Read a member review of book one by HorseLover3000
Vampire Academy and Bloodlines by Richelle Mead (teen reads)
So, imagine if there was a school like Hogwarts - but for vampires, not witches and wizards. Imagine if Harry was a sarcastic, kick-butt, hilarious, teenaged half-vampire-half-human girl called Rose who was training to protect her best friend, a vampire called Lissa who had magic powers. I know that’s a bit of a stretch, but try to imagine it. The Vampire Academy series (and its spin-off Bloodlines) is awesome, with another amazing school I’d love to attend (though, to be honest, St Vladamir’s is no Hogwarts). It’s perfect for any teenager who wants to be constantly amused and entertained. There is action, friendship, danger, suspense and laughter within these books - don’t miss it!

Read a member review of Vampire Academy by BedTimeStories
The Wardstone Chronicles by Joseph Delaney
This series is brilliant! It’s scary, exciting, epic and is even being turned into a movie! The first few novels follow Tom as he is chosen to become the Spook’s Apprentice. As the apprentice, he’s going to be hunting all kinds of things that go bump in the night: eep! Aimed at nine-year-olds, this book is an awesome, epic fantasy that scared my pants off when I first read it! So for those of you who love the magic and darker side of HP, grab this book now!
Read a member review of book one by Ink Blot
Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan
Of course, I have to mention Percy Jackson. I’m sure you all know the series - I mean, most Potterheads I know would love to go to Camp Half Blood too - but I need to put it on this list anyway. Complete with another awesome school for gifted individuals, (Greek gods, Roman gods, Egyptian gods and (soon!) Norse gods) Riordan’s books are action-packed, hilarious and addictive. They’re definitely not to be missed!
Read a member review of book one by King of Hearts
A seen from the movie version of Percy Jackson with Brandon T. Jackson, Logan Lerman and Alexandra Daddario playing Grover Underwood, Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase. Photograph: 20 CENTURY FOX/Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar
The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig (teen read)
This came out in February and it is amazing. It’s a dystopian novel, but has elements of magic running through it. The female protagonist Cass is a seer and all twins are linked to one anther - if one dies, so does the other. This book is amazing and blends magic with the apocalypse perfectly! It has an epic quest, like Harry Potter, and lots of action, friendship and even a few laughs. Anyone who loves dystopia and HP, who’s 13 and over, read this ASAP!
Chronicles of Ixia by Maria V. Snyder (teen read)
All of her series are awesome but these two in particular are epic, beautiful, addictive, magical and amazing. The Study series in particular has a HP-ish vibe to it. The female protagonist, Yelena, studies all kinds of things, including magic at a school for magicians! Couple that with awesome characters, beautiful world building and loads of action, and this will soothe any teenaged Potter fan’s cravings!
Photograph: PR
Insignia by SJ Kincaid
This dystopian novel is about teenaged gamers controlling real ships up in space, fighting the new world war! They live in an academy-like place. There are friendships and enemies, laughs and action. Basically, loads of the best elements from Harry Potter, but in a futuristic world!
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
This is for younger Harry Potter fans and seriously shouldn’t be missed. This series has just finished, so you have loads of brilliant books to dig into. The protagonist, Stephanie, meets Skulduggery - who’s a sorcerer, a detective and also dead! Yes, she is taken on adventures and taught magic by a witty, hilarious skeleton detective in this brilliant series. I honestly can’t recommend it enough!
Read a member review of book one by Beaver
The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
I adore Jonathan Stroud and all his books, but The Bartimaeus Trilogy are my favourites. Nathaniel is a magician-in-training and, following a series of events, decides to summon an ancient djinni called Bartimaeus. Thus begins their action-packed and often hilarious adventures. I utterly adore Bartimaeus, mainly thanks to the certain djinni it’s named after, and it’s definitely perfect for those wanting more of that special Harry Potter brand of magic!
If you’re a bit older…
…and you loved the Harry Potter world and the magic, and now are looking for fantastical worlds that are bigger, bolder and even more magical, you should try some epic high fantasy books. Lord of the Rings, Trudi Canavan’s Black Magician series, The Graceling Series and Garth Nix’s Abhorsen series.
For younger readers…
…of course you must check out The Chronicles of Narnia! And though it might not be high fantasy, The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani, set in a school where you’re either a fairy tale hero or villian, takes you on some brilliant adventures!
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