Fantasy books you can read instead of Harry Potter
JK Rowling is a bigot who uses her platform to hurt transfolks and other marginalized groups (plus she literally just quoted Mein Kampf on the bird site). If you're still supporting her in 2025, don't bother talking to me.
created by ClutteredBookshelf
last updated October, 2025
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Holy cow thatâs a lot of books!!! Can you recommend a couple series to start with? Itâs a bit overwhelming, but great to know there are so many choices.
When I read HP two decades ago, my husband bought a fake set in Bangkok. I felt bad then. I donât now.
Of the books in this list that I've actually read, the series I most enjoyed are The Earthsea Cycle, Abarat, and The Last Dragon Chronicles. If you're also interested in standalone novels, I definitely recommend The Thief Lord (though the fantasy elements don't really appear until the latter half) and The Bone Flute (I have a soft spot for it since the author was from my hometown).
Much appreciated!
Absolutely this. She has literally said out loud that she uses her wealth to defund human rights. You can't separate the art from a living artist who is using her money for evil.
Period đłď¸ââ§ď¸
Omg Cirque du Freak just sent me back to middle school haha I used to be obsessed with those books! If you're looking for more recs at all, I'd super recommend To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose! It has an indigenous MC who discovers a dragon egg and ends up going to a dragon school, so it scratches that sorta magic school + coming of age itch!
This list is great! Found a way to show your beliefs and gave examples of something better ! đ I can understand enjoying the books before you found out sheâs the witch from Hansel and Gretel. But if youâre still sucking on her toes now, we have issues. đĽ
omg septimus heap and the redwall series!! i loved these growing up and i'm so happy to see them mentioned, and on a list for a great cause too!! (cause being: F--- Joanne Kathleen Rowling)
Love Redwall!!! I still remember it fondly more than two decades after I read them :-)
I will say Lobizona has heavy HP references, just a warning to those who haven't read it yet.
I remember it being mentioned once but was it brought up again? I don't remember because it's been a few years since I read it. I remember it pissing me off, though.
Yep mc constantly compares herself to harry and her situation to how harry was treated by the dursleys(my mom isn't as bad as them at least kind of thing). I read it this year, which is why I remember this so clearly. I don't know if it continues to the next books because I got so fed up that even though I liked the overall story, I couldn't be bothered risking it for the next ones.
I didn't read the other ones either so I can't comment on that. It's super annoying when there are HP references. Atp, if it's mentioned in any other way than critical, I will DNF the book.
Thank you for informing me. I wouldn't have added those books if I had known. I don't know if Pagebound allows user to remove items from lists, but I will try to do so.
EDIT: I just found the edit button, so those two books are now gone.
Of courseđđ˝âşď¸
Thank you for posting this! I want to especially encourage people with young kids in their lives or friends with kids to introduce other books like these instead of hp. A lot of us who grew up with this series know better, but as a teacher im shocked to see how popular those books still are
Thank you so much!
It's incredibly discouraging how many kids are still reading HP. In fact, part of the reason I made this list was because my sibling-in-law's little sister started the series (their parents are super transphobic and they only interact with them now for her sake, so it was a huge gut punch for them). I'm glad to hear there are teachers like you out there that are encouraging kids and parents to expand their literary horizons.
If there are any books your students enjoy that you think would fit the list, please share!
So many fantastic books on here! If I might recommend a few more (and do pardon me if there are any on here already that I'm doubling up on; I was trying to keep a mental tab as I was scrolling through but my memory's a fleeting thing)--Kaza Kingsley's Erec Rex series, though unfinished, is very much in this area and a very fun time; the Leven Thumps series by Obert Skye is similar as well. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede is also excellent fantasy with a tremendously charming writing style. The Order of Odd-Fish by James Kennedy is a bit quirkier but fun, and the same could be said of Flora Segunda by Yseabeau S. Wilce. Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda has a bit of a younger target demographic but it's got similar vibes. Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series definitely has parallels, as does the Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nimmo (also a bit younger) and perhaps the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. Can I count Ella Enchanted (by Gail Carson Levine of course) since it's briefly set at a school...? It's a tenuous connection but I also just love that book haha, same with Two Princesses of Bamarre (also by Gail Carson Levine) and Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde--technically scifi, but for most of the book it's in a fantasy setting. Andddd let's see, in more recent stuff, Jessica Townsend's Morrigan Crow books are really solid middle grade fantasy and I think the Keeper of Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger was fun as well :>
Thank you for the suggestions. I will get around to adding them.
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