What to Read After Harry Potter [Librarian Suggests]

Best for fans of the Wizarding World, Professor Snape or Sirius Black

Much like Harry, Artemis is unexpectedly thrust into a world of magic and unknown creatures. Unlike Harry, Artemis is a cunning criminal mastermind. This series is a deep dive into a complete world, much like the Wizarding World, it is unique however as it is one of the few series for children that features an anti-hero protagonist.

There are eight books as well as graphic novels, so you can really get lost in this series for a while.

Best for fans of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Imagine you could actually fall into your favorite story. Not just in your mind, but physically jump into the plot, battle wolves and goblins and rescue princesses.

Twins Alex and Connor discover a way to visit their favorite stories, but things are harder in story land than they expect! Recommended ages 10+ for some language.

Best for fans of Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, or any one who struggled to read a textbook

Hundreds of years ago magic and science existed together, but slowly science gained popularity over magic until it pushed magic aside and it began to fade from the world. This story is part textbook, part storybook of Owen Macready, a thirteen year old boy who uses magic to defeat a school bully and finds himself in the midst of a battle with anti-magic mercenaries.

In book two, Cryptozoology for Beginners, the group is back together and must travel the world to save vanishing cryptids from the anti-magicians (great for fans of Hagrid or Newt Scamander). As a bonus, the paper copy of the book is beautifully bound and feels like an ancient book. Recommended ages 10+

Best for fans of the Patronus charm, wizard familiars or Hogwarts: A History

In an alternate history where dragon battalions are part of any battle strategy Captain Will Lawrence was just trying to make a name for himself as a sea captain when his ship unexpectedly captures a French ship and its cargo, a dragon egg.

Captain Lawrence’s life abruptly changes from one of the sea to one of the air in the Aerial Corps. Will Lawrence’s bond with his new dragon be enough to save the country?

Best for ages 14+ for complex and formal language styles, great for tweens, teens and adults.

Best if you loved Hermione, Draco, the Castle, Ravenclaws or Slytherins

Imagine you get accepted to Hogwarts, but the castle is actively trying to kill you. There are no teachers or formal lessons. You learn magic and graduate, or you die. Oh also you are naturally gifted with destruction magic, but you really are not trying to kill anyone.

Galadriel is just trying to make it through to graduation, doing her best to control her magic, learn new languages and just maybe, make a friend? It ends on a cliffhanger, so just go ahead and get book two, The Last Graduate, as well, you’re going to want it!

Best for ages 14+ for some intense battles.

Best for anyone who loved Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Daine has always been an animal-person, easily able to tell what they want and need and get them to respond to what she asks. It’s not until she has to leave her home after a bandit attack however that she discovers it’s not just a knack for dealing with animals, she has very rare wild magic.

There are some characters and plot issues that relate to Pierce’s prior series “Song of the Lioness” because this story takes place in the same world, however there is enough exposition and description from Daine for readers to gather the details through context clues.

Best for ages 12+

Best for fans of Ginny or Hermione

This is a stand-alone book, but one of many by this author. It creates a vivid and colorful world of everyday magic and curses, ogres, giants and fairies, and a princess who must rescue herself.

Ella of Frell was “gifted” at birth by a fairy to always be obedient, which in reality is a very serious curse. Ella must break free of this curse if she has any hope of being normal. If you like this then also try Ogre Enchanted and Fairest, by the same author. Best for ages 10+

Best for fans of Harry Potter and the Triwizard Tournament

Eragon, like Harry, is thrust into an unknown world of magic when he finds a dragon egg while working his family’s farm.

Suddenly, Eragon is thrust into a world of magic, unknown creatures and untold power. He becomes a dragon rider but struggles to find his place in this new world, where his actions could have a political impact on everyone around him. You’re going to want the box set.

Great for advanced readers or ages 12+

Best for fans of cross-house friendships, also good for Slytherins

Imagine if the Sorting Hat made a terrible mistake, and Harry and Draco had been switched, placing them in the other’s house; now imagine it wasn’t a mistake after all. Would it have changed who they were, or made them more themselves?

Sophie and Agatha leave for The School for Good and Evil knowing exactly which school they will be placed in, or at least, they think they do. When the roles are seemingly reversed will they find out it is a mistake or will they find out who they are meant to be?

Recommended for ages 10+ for challenging themes about social constructs.

Best for fans of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, also for Lord of the Rings fans

The Rangers are scary. They have magic, wear long cloaks and can be invisible to regular people, but what Will does not know is that the Rangers protect the kingdom, and he is about to join them.

This is a perfect epic-level fantasy for fans of Harry Potter because there are eleven books, feature heavily in action and adventure and are just a little dark and gritty, but still good for a wide age range of readers.

Recommended for ages 8+ because there are many books and they will grow with the readers age and reading level. Like Harry Potter, the books start off slim and grow throughout the series.

Best for fans of friendship, adventure and good versus evil and magical lands

One of the original stories of magical kingdoms and mythical animals come to life, this series features different stories that intersect in different ways, rather than one continuous story featuring the same characters. There are epic tales of good versus evil and heroic deeds done by everyday people.

The books can be read either in publication order or in chronological order of the story. Best for ages 8+ for intense adventure scenes.

Best for fans of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and the house ghosts

If baby Harry had wandered from home after the death of his parents and into a graveyard, his life might have looked like Nobody “Bod” Owens’ life. Bod’s parents were murdered but he was left alive to toddle out of the house and down to the local cemetery where a group of ghosts took pity on him and adopted him.

Their biggest challenge is keeping Bod safe in the graveyard, because outside its gates lurks the man who murdered his parents and wants to finish the job. But why was his family murdered and why is the killer still after Bod?

Best for ages 10+ for some intense imagery at the opening.

Best for fans of Hagrid, magical creatures and Newt Scamander

Siblings Kendra and Seth are left with their grandparents for the week, whom they do not know well, and stumble upon a huge family secret. Their grandfather is actually the caretaker for a magical refuge of fairytale creatures. This is a story of bravery, family and magical creatures.

Personally, I would suggest you opt for the hard copy of this, rather than the audio version, I personally found to be very off-putting which is unfortunate because the story is great. Good for ages 8+

Best for fans of friendship, magic, the underdog and justice

In the dystopian society of Quill children are separated into classes of “Wanteds,” “Necessaries” and “Unwanteds” between the ages of 10-16. The Unwanteds are removed from society and destroyed, or at least that is what the Quillian’s have always believed.

These Unwanteds are actually taken off to a secret city called Artime where unique, creative and magical talents are nurtured and developed. Alex is deemed an Unwanted while his twin brother Aaron is kept in Quill as a Wanted. Their separation challenges their bond and when a threat to Artime arises it pits them against each other.

This story has themes of friendship, valuing everyone and reconciliation. Best for ages 9+

Best for fans of Luna Lovegood, mystery, magic, love and sacrifice

Grisha is a dragon in a world and time that has forgotten how to see dragons. Maggie comes upon Grisha one day and finds it perfectly reasonable for there to be dragons in the world. Together they discover that dragons used to be free and part of the world until a powerful group of people conspired to remove dragons from society.

They must work together to bring back the dragons, which requires an intense bond of friendship and also terrible sacrifice. The story is beautiful, lyrical and sometimes melancholy. Best for ages 10+

Best for fans of magic, adventure and friendship, Gryffindors and the Harry/Ron/Hermione friendship trio

Tolkein is the foremost creator of magical worlds and generally credited to be the inspiration for every fantasy novel that has come after. Middle Earth has depth, character and complexity as do the characters, people groups and languages of everyone you meet in any Tolkein story.

The Hobbit is an accessible start to the lore of Middle Earth for a young reader and a story that anyone who loved Rowling’s world would enjoy. There are wizards, dwarves and hobbits, adventure, friendship and magic as well as good versus evil and struggles in the grey area between.

If you’d like to try something different, there is also a beautiful illustrated edition, or a graphic novel version. Best for ages 12+ for challenging themes and more complex language.

Best for fans of the mystery of Harry Potter being the Chosen One

Septimus Heap was the seventh son of a seventh son and went missing the night he was born. That same night his father, Silas, discovers an abandoned baby girl. Who is this girl and where did Septimus go?

This story is full of mystery and magic but only about as dark and serious as Harry Potter and the Triwizard Tournament. Best for ages 9+