Hogwarts, Hogwarts, hoggy-warty Hogwarts, teach us something, please.
The magical allure of fiction’s most prestigious educational institution continues to leave an indelible mark on generations of readers and will do so till the end of time.
Here are some exciting books like Harry Potter if you’re craving more magical schools, young heroes, and spellbinding adventures to fill that Hogwarts-shaped void.
Swap wands for swords and Hogwarts for Camp Half-Blood, where Greek gods’ demigod children train (and bicker) like magical frat siblings.
Percy, a dyslexic, ADHD-prone hero, discovers he’s Poseidon’s son, leading to quests packed with humor, heart, and mythological mayhem. The entire Percy Jackson universe is perfect if you’re looking for books like Harry Potter, with prophecies, sassy centaurs, and monsters who really hold grudges.
In The School for Good and Evil, twin schools train heroes and villains—except the lines blur fast. Best friends Sophie (princess wannabe) and Agatha (goth cynic) get tossed into the wrong classes, upending fairy-tale tropes.
Chainani’s world drips with dark whimsy, and the moral complexity makes Snape look straightforward.
Imagine a world where there’s magic with consequences, and antiheroes with grad-school-level magic and existential dread.
In The Magicians, Quentin Coldwater enrolls at Brakebills College, where spells require calculus-level precision and the fantasy world of Fillory is real, but nothing like the stories promised. It’s dark, sardonic, and brutally adult.
Here, our protagonist, Morrigan, escapes death by joining a magical society’s high-stakes entrance trials. Think Goblet of Fire meets Alice in Wonderland, with sentient umbrellas and a hotel that rearranges itself.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow is whimsical, packed with emotional depth, and great for fans of whirlwind worldbuilding, underdog heroes, and magical competitions.
While this series is markedly different from the urban fantasy feel of Harry Potter, it features a magical school similar to Hogwarts, but this time, a grittier version.
The protagonist, Kvothe, has several adventures at the University, involving tuition scams, library arson, and unraveling ancient mysteries.
In Akata Witch, Nigerian-American Sunny discovers she’s a “free agent” in a hidden magical society. West African juju replaces wands, and the Leopard People’s training is as much about cultural legacy as spells.
The story is fresh, fierce, and long overdue in fantasy.
The story features a magical university divided by race and politics, where Elloren (descendant of a dark legend) must unlearn prejudice.
Perfect for fans of Harry Potter’s moral dilemmas, but with sharper social commentary, The Black Witch tackles bigotry head-on, with elemental magic and slow-burn rebellion.
The Atlas Six is a dark academia where six genius magicians compete for five spots in a secret society, blending cutthroat politics with mind-bending magic.
The story is philosophical, sexy, packed with twists, and reminiscent of Slytherin-esque ambition
The Rithmatist is about a school where students learn to defend themselves by bringing chalk drawings to life.
The steampunk-esque setting, competitive magical duels (chalk battles!), and the main character’s underdog grit make this a must-read if you enjoy magic systems, academic rivalries, and protagonists who solve problems with brains over brawn.
What if Hogwarts, the castle, actively tried to kill you? What if there were no teachers, no rules, just survival?
That’s what A Deadly Education is about. El’s sarcasm is legendary, the magic system (maleficaria!) is terrifyingly creative, and the romance? If you’re looking for books like Harry Potter, Nami Novik’s Deadly Education is a slow-burning perfection.
