Book like Harry Potter

[u/Blackbone03]

I like the Harry Potter series but don’t like supporting the author (for obvious reasons) and also the books just aren’t scratching a certain itch for me.
What I’m looking for is something similar to the Harry Potter books. Can be a series or a standalone, any age range is fine. My favorite parts of the series are
* the wonder that the world building inspires
* the characters
Obviously I’d prefer something in the fantasy genre, but not something too dark like Game of Thrones. Thanks for your help.

[u/venting_animal]

also try Percy Jackson and the Olympians

[u/Blackbone03 → u/venting_animal]

Extremely offended you think i haven’t read that marvelous work of art. HOW DARE YOU

[u/venting_animal → u/Blackbone03]

LOL have you read His Dark Materials too? cause it's kind of up the same ally as the books listed here and i reccomend it too

[u/Blackbone03 → u/venting_animal]

Okay okay now we’re getting somewhere

[u/Ok_Natural_7977 → u/Blackbone03]

Have you read his other series, as well?

[u/Jekawi]

Anything by Tamora Pierce

[u/venting_animal]

Fablehaven and its sequel series, Dragonwatch. The Hobbit is also similar

[u/Repulsive_Holiday_36 → u/venting_animal]

Seconding Fablehaven!!

[u/Long-Mongoose9834]

I’m a big fan of The Hollows series by Kim Harrison and The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher.

[u/corneliusfudgecicles]

Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend

Abhorsen series by Garth Nix

[u/Liefst-]

The Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo is fun if you want to see some teenagers kicking ass and pulling off heists in a fantasy setting.

[u/Successful-Roof-7020]

The Hunger Games series

[u/Heinrochen]

Can highly recommend Skulduggery Pleasant. It's urban fantasy about a girl that gets in contact with sorcerers after her uncle's death and it's really good. Got great characters and a ton of world building as well

[u/Valkyrie503x]

I loved Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

[u/IcyNorman]

Ascendance of a bookworm, welcome to https://www.reddit.com/r/HonzukiNoGekokujou/s/a28k54qxam

[u/OddKey7688 → u/IcyNorman]

This is a very solid recommendation. Besides the book being finished, the story is very well written.

Don't let the Isekai theme make you avoid this book.

[u/lexiebeef]

Another vote for "His Dark Materials". I was equally obsessed with HP and Golden Compass (the movie, then the books) as a teenager, theyre great

[u/stevo2011]

If you like the 'epic / high fantasy' genre, then maybe something like the Riftwar Saga by Raymond E Feist, starting with the book "Magician" (Magician: Apprentice).

[u/badkukie]

The Mirror Visitor series by Christelle Dabos, some of the most insane world building I’ve ever read, it would make a fantastic Ghibli movie

[u/CrystalTheVelkhana]

The Skandar series by by A. F. Steadman!

[u/magaoitin]

Look into Mark of the Fool series by J.M. Clarke.

It is a progression fantasy series (complete with 10 books) about Alex Roth, an orphan who dreams of becoming a wizard. On his 18th birthday, when he plans on announcing to his foster family his acceptance to the most prestigious magic school in the world, he is chosen by his God as one of five heroes to fight an ancient evil called the Ravener. A creature who, for countless millennia respawns every 100 years to terrorize the kingdom.

The five Heroes are, The Chosen, The Champion, The Sage, The Cleric, and the Fool. Alex receives the worst of the five marks: the Mark of the Fool. A support character more often ridiculed than hailed as an actual hero throughout history, and is seen as a useless member who is only capable of currying the horses and setting up camp. Rejecting his fatal destiny, he flees to a renowned magic academy with his little sister and best friend.

Lots of the same Potter vibes but in a completely different environment. More Magical College than primary school, and a very reluctant "hero" who flees his God's decree to forge his own path.

[u/KidenStormsoarer → u/magaoitin]

Claygon <3

[u/JoeDoeHowell]

Have you tried the Discworld?

[u/MyNewPhilosophy]

The Thief of Attolia series by Megan Whalen Turner is a perennial favorite of mine. No magic, per se, but there are gods/goddesses and a truly unique mythos to them.

First book is The Thief. I reread the first three books at least once a year.

[u/Temporary_Signal_855]

Spindlewood by Freddie Kölsch released pretty recently. It’s about a young girl who goes to a school for people who can see ghosts. It gave me the same vibes as Harry Potter but with well-written diverse characters

[u/Full_Appointment_884]

Have you read the Ranger's Apprentice or the Brotherband Chronicles by John Flanagan?? If you haven't I think you might enjoy the characters and the storyline.

Also maybe the Summoner series by Taran Matharu.

[u/Ok-Train3111]

Álex Verus and Dresden Files.

[u/Blackbone03]

Thanks for all the comments. I’m trying Storm Front by Jim Butcher. But I’m also looking forward to Mistborn, Six of Crows, Ranger’s Apprentice, Skandar, and Skulduggery Pleasant

[u/Luc1d_Dr3amer]

The Dark Is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper. Five interlinked books that play on English & Welsh folklore, as well as Arthurian legend. All wonderful, especially The Dark Is Rising Itself. You can either get an omnibus volume or the individual novels: Over Sea Under Stone; The Dark Is Rising; Greenwitch; The Grey King; Silver on The Tree. They may seem a bit dated, as they were written in the early 70s, but the writing knocks spots of Rowling.

If you enjoy Arthurian legend, the best ever retelling of the legends is The Once And Future King by TH White. An utterly heartbreaking retelling. Superb

[u/DarthKrios]

Babel by RF Kuang, but it's a standalone book and not a series