I can't figure out what to read next because nothing beats Harry Potter. I'm craving the escape of a good book or series and don't know where to turn.
But I don't want to read another magical school book. I don't love HP because it's about a magical school. In fact, I wasn't interested in fantasy before reading Harry Potter. But by book three, I was absolutely hooked. I admire Rowling's writing so much. Everything in the plot ties together; it was obviously carefully mapped out and not thrown together like some series. I also actually care about the characters (even the minor ones) and think about them all the time. The world feels so real and authentic, like it really exists somewhere. Of course, it's also magical and fun, and I love that the story has heart. I just want to read the series over and over again.
I read the first 2.5 books of ACOTAR, and found it to be pretty silly. I didn't care about the world or the fairy fights at all; I only kept reading to find out what happened with the romance story. (This was the first romance story I ever tried, and was surprised to find that I enjoyed it)
My usual go-to books are YA mysteries like those of Karen McManus. Which are fun, but short-lived.
I am so picky, but would love to find a book or series that will make me care again. I want to feel like I'm somewhere else and that the world actually exists somewhere. I haven't had that feeling since the last time I read HP and would love to find it again. I'm open to suggestions in any genre. My pet peeve is an amateur thrown together story/plot that cuts corners. I have very little patience with books I don't like, especially when the protagonist is unlikable or has too much artificial angst. Where should I go next? Narnia? LOTR? Something more modern? Please, let me know!
by ohnoitsasasquatch
14 Comments
I felt the same way after finishing Harry Potter. It’s depressing, so I started reading Stephen King’s Dark Tower series.
What about the Percy Jackson books? A great series with a few spin offs! I think it even falls under the same category as Harry Potter as young adult fantasy! I read them at 15/16 compared to Harry Potter that I read as a child and still loved them just as much!
Maybe check out Diana Wynne Jones? She was a huge influence on J. K. Rowling, all of her characters are so rich and believable. Maybe you’d like Dalemark Quartet
Hyperion Cantos. Be well
Try:
Super Powereds.
Mother of Learning.
The Perfect Run.
Dungeon Crawler Carl.
The Tomes and Tea series by Rebecca Thorne. They’re cozy/adventure fantasy. I absolutely adore the characters in this book and it’s just so much fun to read.
If you haven’t read Narnia or LoTR you absolutely should. If you do LoTR start with The Hobbit (it’s my favorite one).
I would give Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, Babel by RF Kuang, or The Magicians trilogy by Lev Grossman a try. All of them take the tropes of HP in new directions, especially the last one.
You might enjoy Off to Be The Wizard by Scott Meyer.
It’s a funny book about a guy who discovers a way to time travel and goes back to when people believed in wizards. Only to find out he isn’t the first.
If you’re into audiobooks, I highly suggest listening.
You might like The House Witch
The chronicles of Narnia… chefs kiss
A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) does an excellent job at world building
Nevermoor (Morrigan Crow) Is the only book I’ve gotten legit Potter vibes from. The first three are as good or better than the first three Potters. 4th out this coming summer.
The House of Night is a good Potteresque magic series I would recommend
I highly highly recommend [Nevermoor](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6a6d5ca1-b2f5-47be-828c-018144d3bbc7) by Jessica Townsend! It’s my favorite series even as an adult, and the only one that makes me feel the way the Harry Potter books used to.