If You Like Harry Potter...

Different people like Harry Potter for different reasons. So, what exactly do you like about the Harry Potter novels? Do you enjoy the “coming of age” aspect? The humorous fantasy? The adventure, action and suspense? The magic and magical creatures? Or do you like how Harry’s magical world exists within our own “real” world?
Our guide may help you choose the right books for you:
C = coming of age / H = humorous fantasy / A = adventure, action & suspense 
M = magic & magical creatures / MR = magic within our “real” world


On A Pale Horse by Piers Anthony  (H-A-MR)
When Zane shot Death, he learned, too late, that he would have to assume his place, speeding over the world riding his pale horse, and ending the lives of others. Sooner than he would have thought possible, Zane found himself being drawn to a trap forged by the Prince of Evil, Satan himself. Unless he could discover the only way out. Also try the rest of the Incarnations of Immortality Series.

Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks  (C-A-M)
Shea Ohmsford, a half-human/half-elf adopted son of an innkeeper must defeat the evil Warlock Lord who is trying to destroy the earth. The only way to defeat the Warlock Lord is to use the Sword of Shannara, and only a descendant of the Jerle Shannara can use the sword. Shea is the last heir of the Jerle Shannara. Also try the rest of The Shannara Series, continuing with Elfstones of Shannara.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher  (H-A-MR)
Harry’s an orphaned wizard and detective, but his last name’s Dresden, not Potter, and he lives in Chicago, not England. In Harry's first adventure he is called in by the cops to "consult" on a grisly murder and must stop a very powerful black magician. Be sure to follow the rest of Harry's (mis)adventures in the other Dresden Files books, which continue with Fool Moon. 

Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings  (C-H-M-A)
A farm boy, Garion, begins a quest of unparalleled magic and danger to recover the magic Orb that protects the men of the West and prevent the evil god Torak from seizing power over the world. Also try the rest of the Belgariad Series, continuing with Queen of Sorcery.

Magician: Apprentice by Raymond Feist  (C-A-M)
To the forest on the shore of the Kingdom of the Isles, the orphan Pug came to study with the master magician Kulgan. Pug's strange sort of magic would one day change forever the fates of two worlds. For dark beings from another world had opened a rift in the fabric of space-time to begin again the age-old battle between the forces of Order and Chaos. Also try the rest of the Riftwar Saga. 

Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb  (C-A-M)
Young Fitz is a bastard son of Prince Chivalry, ignored by royalty and raised by his father's gruff
stableman. He is secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz's blood runs the magic Skill.  Also try the rest of the Farseer Saga, continuing with Royal Assassin.

The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay  (C-A-MR)
It all began with a lecture that introduced five university students to a man who would change their lives, a wizard who could take them from Earth to the heart of the first of all worlds – Fionavar. And take them Loren Silvercloak did, for his need was great indeed. And in a marvelous land of men and dwarves, of wizards and gods – and of the Unraveller and his minions of Darkness – Kimberly, Dave, Jennifer, Kevin and Paul discovered who they were truly meant to be, and only if they accepted their destiny would the armies of the Light stand any chance of surviving when the Unraveller unleashed his wrath upon the world. The Fionavar Tapestry continues with The Wandering Fire and The Darkest Road.

Deryni Rising by Katherine Kurtz  (C-A-M)
Young Prince Kelson is about to assume the throne after the mysterious death of his father. He must be told of his family's secret: that there are those of their blood who possess the forbidden magical powers of the Deryni. For his rule is being challenged by a sorceress who does not hesitate to lay full claim to her Deryni powers. To defeat her Kelson must now learn a lifetime's worth of magic in a few short days. If he loses, he dies as his father had. And if he wins, he is King – but all the world will know that he is also Deryni. Also try the rest of the Deryni Series.

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin  (C-A-M)
Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. The Earthsea Series continues with The Tombs of Atuan.

The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart  (C-A-M) 
Born the bastard son of a Welsh princess, Myridden Emrys – or as he would later be known, Merlin – leads a perilous childhood, haunted by portents and visions. But destiny has great plans for this no-man's-son, taking him from prophesying before the High King Vortigern to the crowning of Uther Pendragon ... and the conception of Arthur – king for once and always. Also try The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment, and The Wicked Day.  

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien  (C-A-M)
Frodo Baggins, a hobbit, takes on the task of destroying a magic ring, which the Dark Lord Sauron is trying to obtain in order to send the world into an age of darkness. In order to destroy the ring, Frodo and his friends must travel into the land of the Dark Lord and throw it into the volcanic fires of Mount Doom. The epic Fantasy quest by the father of the modern Fantasy Novel. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy continues with The Two Towers and The Return of the King; also try The Hobbit.

The Once and Future King by T.H. White  (C-A-M)
The fantasy classic by which others are judged. This is a novel about Camelot, covering Arthur's birth and childhood – when he is known only as "Wart" – through the end of his reign. White's illuminating use of wizardry and war show us the men behind the myths. It is the magical epic of King Arthur and his shining Camelot; of Merlin and Owl and Guinevere; of beasts who talk and men who fly; of wizardry and war. It is the book of all things lost and wonderful and sad.

Young Adult books:

So You Want to Be a Wizard by Diane Duane  (C-A-MR) 
Thirteen-year-old Nita, tormented by a gang of bullies because she won't fight back, finds the help she needs in a library book on wizardry which guides her into another dimension. The Young Wizards Series continues with Deep Wizardry.

Sabriel by Garth Nix  (C-A-MR)
Since childhood, Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the power of Free Magic, and away from the Dead who refuse to stay dead. Now she must journey into the mysterious and magical Old Kingdom to rescue her father, the necromancer Abhorsen, from the Land of the Dead. Also try Lirael and Abhorsen.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini  (C-M-A)
In Aagaesia, a 15-year-old farm boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic and power, peopled with dragons, elves and monsters. The Inheritance Troligy continues with Eldest and Brisingr.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman  (C-A-MR) 
Accompanied by her daemon, Lyra Belacqua sets out to prevent her best friend Roger and other kidnapped children from becoming the subject of gruesome experiments in the Far North. Along the way she encounters a woman who seems too nice to trust, an armored polar bear, flying witches and a hot air balloon pilot and has quite an adventure. The His Dark Materials Trilogy continues with The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. 

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud  (C-H-A-MR)
Nathaniel, a magician's apprentice, had taught himself spells well beyond his years and summons up the all-powerful djinni Bartimaeus and instructs him to steal the Amulet of Samarkand from the powerful magician Simon Lovelace. The Bartimaeus Trilogy continues with The Golem's Eye.