5 young adult and adult fantasy books similar to Harry Potter

The first big kid chapter books I read were-you guessed it-Harry Potter. If you’re anything like me - and I don’t think you’d be here if you weren’t - you were obsessed with Harry Potter. You knew your house, your Patronus, and your school pet. According to the official Wizarding World website, over half a billion people have purchased the Harry Potter series since its release over 20 years ago. If I’m being honest, I’m still not over the fact that I never did get that Hogwarts letter in the mail (sad girl hours have officially started). I am also still upset that J.K. Rowling is an out and proud TERF (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist). If you’re upset at her too, I don’t blame you. Because let’s face it, Hogwarts seems like a welcoming place for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. So we can cancel J.K. and still love Hogwarts for giving us a home. Fear not, all you witches, wizards, and magical beings! I will be your guide to all things Magical But Make it Inclusive.

1. Lobizona by Romina Garber Manuela is an undocumented citizen living in Miami with her mother. When ICE conducts a raid and takes Manu’s mom away, Manu will stop at nothing to get her back. Her heartwrenching quest takes her deep into the Florida Everglades where she stumbles upon a magical school, where girls are Brujas and boys are werewolves. At its core, Lobizona is a book about identity, which I really loved. This book broke my heart and stitched it back together. Move over Twilight, there’s some new badass werewolves in town! Things You’ll Love: -found family -queer relationships -werewolves that bust down gender roles -a soccer match that’ll remind you a bit of Quidditch

Buy here: 2. Magic for Liars Sarah Gailey If murder mysteries with a dark noir edge are your jam, Magic for Liars will most definitely be your jam too. A private investigator with a drinking problem and no magical abilities is called in to investigate a murder at the magical school her estranged sister works at. Gailey effortlessly writes complex, beautifully flawed characters who are an absolute joy to read. The relationship between Ivy and Tabitha is as complex and nuanced as any real sibling relationship, and I adored every bit of it. This book is about the lies we tell ourselves and others, and the consequences those lies ultimately have. Things You’ll Love: -morally gray characters -queer relationships -lots of humor -a magic system that operates a little like science (keep in mind though that the book is narrated from a non-magical perspective so there’s no deep dive into the inner workings) Buy here: 3. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik Galadriel (El for short) is the single most powerful dark sorceress at the Scholomance Academy. But she just wants to be good, not destroy the entire planet! With the help of resident hero Orion Lake, she and him might just have a chance of surviving all the bloodthirsty monsters that roam the halls preying on students - if they don’t kill each other first. The cliffhanger ending will RUIN you, but fret not- the next installment is slated to come out in 2021. Disclaimer: This book contains an excerpt about locs that is racially insensitive. Naomi Novik has since apologized for writing a racially insensitive scene and will be partnering closely with sensitivity readers on the next book in the series to ensure respectful representation of all races. Things you will love: -enemies to friends trope -a dumb himbo Chosen One -terrifying monsters -unique magic system that I found fascinating -Two words: book portal Buy here: 4. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo This dark fantasy kept me up at night and made my skin CRAWL. I LOVED IT. Galaxy “Alex” Stern can see ghosts. She gets offered a full scholarship to Yale University on one condition: monitor the eight secret societies’ occult activities and make sure no frat boys get carried away with dark magic. Easy enough right? Wrong. When a student is found dead, and her death is tied to one of the secret societies, Alex will have her hands full. And when her mentor goes missing, she’ll need to watch her back… Disclaimer: this book is DARK and not for everyone. I have some trigger warnings below. -sexual assault -murder -gore -drug abuse/overdose -possession Things you’ll love: -women getting revenge on predatory men -spooky ghosts -complex main character who you'll wanna root for -a complex and fascinating magic system Buy here: 5. Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova Alex is a bisexual bruja growing up in Brooklyn. (Wow that’s a lot of B’s.) However, Alex wants nothing more than to be a normal girl, so on her Death Day, she wishes her powers would disappear. However, the curse backfires, sending her entire family to Los Lagos. With the help of a mysterious brujo named Nova, she ventures into the dangerous land of Los Lagos to save her loved ones! Things you’ll love: -a bisexual main character -Latin folklore influences -sarcastic humor -sassy ancestors Buy here: