6 Fantasy Books That Rival Harry Potter

Image via Arthur A. Levine Books/ Scholastic Published Aug 6, 2026, 7:44 AM EDT Eddie Possehl is a dynamic and driven writer/director with a passion for the written word and all things film, television, comics, and games. His passion for storytelling led him to establish his own production company in hopes of achieving his dreams. His dedication to his craft has attracted renowned talent like Yuri Lowenthal to collaborate with him on his projects. As he grows and improves, Eddie is a shining example of a self-starter. Sign in to your Collider account It's safe to say that the fantasy genre has driven almost every fiction medium out there. With this in mind, it's obvious that there have been some astounding fantasy novels across the decades that have cemented themselves as the best of the best. One of said franchises is that of Harry Potter. Ever since the first book's—Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (or "Philosopher's Stone" depending on where one is located)—debut in 1997, it has pretty much taken over the entire world with not just its novels, but movie adaptations, as well. While it may be highly regarded, Harry Potter isn't the only fantasy franchise that is beyond exceptional. There are plenty of others out in the world that, if one has only really consumed Harry Potter, need to be checked out at least once. There are stories that encapsulate everything that a good fantasy story needs, and some that have even become such strong pillars that they are now the blueprint for many future franchises. Some are a lot like Harry Potter, while others are far different, but one thing is certain: these titles rival the iconic series in quality. 'The Fellowship of the Ring' (1954) Image via George Allen & Unwin The Lord of the Rings franchise isn't just a pillar in the fantasy genre, but, honestly, a pillar in fiction writing as a whole. The work of the extremely talented J.R.R. Tolkien is hailed as some of the best storytelling of all time, and has gone on to inspire hundreds of fantasy stories to come after. This is also a franchise that spawned a huge cinematic series—one of the best put on screen, honestly. The Fellowship of the Ring is one of the most iconic fantasy books of all time. Despite being set in the fantastical world of Middle-earth, J.R.R. Tolkien still manages to introduce protagonists that are extremely relatable, the in-depth worldbuilding—Tolkien created full languages, maps, etc.—that brings the world to life excellently, great themes, and characterization from start to finish. 'The Lightning Thief' (2005) Image via Puffin The Harry Potter franchise is one more directed towards younger audiences, and while there are plenty of fantasy books that are for young adults and older, there are some for younger people that truly do rival the Wizarding World. The biggest competitor when it comes to other younger audience-directed novel franchises is none other than Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The first book in this franchise, The Lightning Thief, is astounding. It introduces a similar premise that Harry Potter does—gifted kids attending a specialized school, surrounding a young protagonist who's completely new to it, leagues behind the rest of his peers in experience—but does so through the world of the Greek gods and goddesses. When the young Percy Jackson finds out that he, in fact, is the son of the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon, he must attend Camp Half-Blood with other demigod kids to stay protected from the world of monsters that want them dead. Percy is a very well-written protagonist, being funny and lighthearted, while still having a mouth on him, giving him a little edge. The pacing of The Lightning Thief is also executed excellently, keeping things always moving and exciting, without it feeling too fast, and keeping the emotional moments slow and steady as they should be. Author Rick Riordan also wrote a cement-strong friendship between the three main kids—Percy, Annabeth Chase (daughter of Athena), and Grover Underwood (satyr)—that brings a really heartwarming trio of character arcs forward. 'Babel, or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution' (2022) Image via Harper Voyager Unlike Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Lord of the Rings, R. F. Kuang's Babel, or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution (which will be shortened to Babel moving forward), is a one-off story written with massive prowess. One of the best things about reading a fantasy story with magic in it is having a unique magic system that isn't just waving wands and saying some clever spells—there's nothing wrong with Harry Potter for doing this, but novels like Babel show how much having a unique magic system can make one's world feel special. Rather than being based on magic wands, the magic in Babel is based on translation, using this as an exploration of language as a whole. The magic finds strength in the space between the meaning of two words, making it a very precise system for both the characters and R. F. Kuang to utilize. Babel takes place in an alternate 1830s Britain; the plot follows young Robin Swift as he not only attends the luxurious Oxford, but begins to learn of and face the disgusting stain of imperialism. Oxford and Britain alike are taking advantage and ripping the value from other languages for their own gain. So, not only is the world interesting, but the plot laid atop it is moving, thought-provoking, and impactful. Collider Exclusive · The Sorting Hat Awaits Which Hogwarts House Are You? Gryffindor · Slytherin · Hufflepuff · Ravenclaw Four houses. One destiny. The Sorting Hat has considered thousands of students — now it's your turn. Answer honestly and discover where you truly belong at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 🦁Gryffindor 🐍Slytherin 🦡Hufflepuff 🦅Ravenclaw PLACE THE HAT → 01 What quality do you value most in yourself? Answer as honestly as you can — the Hat always knows. ACourage — I act even when I'm afraid, because what's right matters more than what's safe. BAmbition — I know what I want and I have the drive and cunning to get there. CLoyalty — I show up for the people I love, no matter what it costs me. DWisdom — I think before I act and I'm always hungry to understand more. NEXT QUESTION → 02 A friend is being treated unfairly. What do you do? How you protect others says everything about who you are. AStep in immediately and confront whoever is responsible — I won't stand by. BWork out the best strategy to address it — a smart move beats a rash one. CBe by their side, support them, and help them through it however they need. DAnalyse what's actually happening and find the most reasoned, fair solution. NEXT QUESTION → 03 What does success look like to you? What you're working toward defines who you're becoming. ABeing remembered as someone who fought for what was right, whatever the odds. BAchieving the goals I set for myself — influence, status, and earned respect. CA life where the people I care about know I was there for them, always. DMastering my field, contributing something meaningful, and never stopping learning. NEXT QUESTION → 04 What is your greatest fear? Fear is the most honest thing about a person. ABeing a coward when it mattered — looking back and knowing I did nothing. BMediocrity — fading into obscurity without making my mark on the world. CLosing the people I love or letting them down when they needed me most. DIgnorance — being wrong and not knowing it, or never reaching my potential. NEXT QUESTION → 05 The rules say no. Your gut says go. What do you do? Every institution has rules. What you do with them is a choice. ABreak the rules — if it's the right thing to do, no rule should stop me. BFind a way to get what I want without getting caught. Rules are guidelines. CProbably follow the rules — but I'd find a way to help within them if I could. DThink it through carefully — is the rule unjust, or is my gut just impatient? NEXT QUESTION → 06 What kind of friend are you? Who you are to the people you love is who you really are. AThe protector — I will go to the ends of the earth for the people I care about. BThe strategist — I give sharp advice and I'm the one who figures out how to fix things. CThe constant — I'm always there, always reliable, and I never make it about me. DThe guide — I help people think things through and see perspectives they've missed. NEXT QUESTION → 07 You look into the Mirror of Erised. What do you see? The mirror shows the deepest desire of your heart. AYourself standing victorious, having faced the greatest challenge and won. BYourself at the height of your power — respected, successful, and in control. CYourself surrounded by everyone you love, whole and happy and together. DYourself with all the answers — every book read, every mystery solved. NEXT QUESTION → 08 The Sorting Hat pauses. It whispers: "You could do well in any house. But what matters most to you — truly?" This is your tiebreaker. The Hat always listens. ABravery. I want to be the kind of person who acts when others won't. BGreatness. I want to leave my mark and be more than ordinary. CBelonging. I want to be part of something good and never let my people down. DUnderstanding. I want to know the truth of things and keep growing forever. REVEAL MY HOUSE → The Sorting Hat Speaks Your House Has Been ChosenAfter careful deliberation, the Sorting Hat has made its decision. This is the house your values, your instincts, and your particular way of being in the world were made for. 🦁 GryffindorYou have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you're terrified — especially then. Gryffindors don't act because they're fearless — they act because they understand that some things are worth being afraid for. You stand up for people when it would be easier to look away. You charge toward what's right even when the odds are terrible. Harry, Hermione, Ron — the heroes of Hogwarts's greatest chapter — all called the tower with the scarlet and gold home. And now, so do you. 🐍 SlytherinYou are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there. Slytherin has long been misunderstood — painted as the house of villains when it is, at its best, the house of those who refuse to accept limits placed on them by others. You are resourceful, strategic, and you play the long game. You know your worth. You protect your own fiercely. The dungeon common room with its view of the Black Lake is yours — and the ambitions that will take you further than anyone expects are yours too. 🦡 HufflepuffYou are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it. Hufflepuff is not the "safe" house or the "leftover" house — it is the house of those with the greatest heart and the most unwavering integrity. You show up. You work hard. You don't need glory or recognition — you do what's right because it's right. Your loyalty never wavers, even when tested. Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander — some of the wizarding world's finest. And now you join them. 🦅 RavenclawYour mind is your greatest gift, and you've always known it. Ravenclaws are the thinkers, the questioners, the ones who find a puzzle irresistible and a good book better company than most people. Ravenclaw is not merely about intelligence — it's about the love of learning, the pursuit of truth, and the rare courage to admit you don't know something yet. You see the world with unusual clarity and depth. Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Rowena Ravenclaw herself — all extraordinary, all original. And so are you. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ 'The Way of Kings' (2010) Image via Tor Books Author Brandon Sanderson is known as one of the greatest modern fantasy authors out there, and for extremely good reasons—one of them being his The Stormlight Archives series, and specifically the first book in it, The Way of Kings. This epic is gigantic, being over 1,000 pages! However, much like long stories like One Piece, the read is more than worth it. Sanderson is very good at building cool worlds, magic systems, and genuinely amazing stories. His writing is simple to read and understand while also being abundantly complex and layered, all of this being present in The Way of Kings. This 2010 book is a perfect example of why the author is so beloved. It's filled to the brim with themes that are emotional and thoughtful, great underdog character arcs, a very unique world/planet, and gracefully handled mental/emotional trauma within the characters. The Way of Kings is simply one of the best fantasy stories out there, if one is willing to stick with the long page length—typically it's hard to really notice it as an issue, though, because it's simply that engaging. 'The Poppy War' (2018) Image via Goodreads R. F. Kuang's Babel isn't the only dip into fantasy she's ever had. Her most popular fantasy outing is that of 2018's The Poppy War. This novel is a huge subversion of expectations when it comes to stories like this. It starts like the first Harry Potter entry does, where the young protagonist, Fang "Rin" Runin, begins attending a prestigious military academy for the best of the best. However, it eventually takes that, flips it on its head, and begins weaving a fantastical story that shows the horrors of war. The Poppy War, as stated and made clear in the title, touches on the topic of war very well. Despite being a fantasy novel, it refuses to treat war like any kind of fantasy. It is relentlessly ruthless in every single way, not shying away from the terrible truths of the concept. 'Mistborn: The Final Empire' (2006) Image via Brandon Sanderson / Tor Books While The Way of Kings is a phenomenal read and one of Brandon Sanderson's best, many people would agree that his best may very well be the Mistborn franchise. The first title, Mistborn: The Final Empire, is easily the best of the first three, and is one of the best fantasy books ever written. This series has one of the coolest magic systems, driven completely by the use of metals—each metal giving a different power to a Misting, or every power to those few who can wield them all, the Mistborn—known as Allomancy. Mistborn is on its way to getting a live-action adaptation, written by Sanderson himself, and people are beyond excited. The world, characters, and magic system (as stated) are top-notch. Mistborn: The Final Empire is truly one of a kind and has gone on to be truly unforgettable, even a whopping 20 years later. Mistborn Producers Brandon Sanderson Franchise(s) Mistborn