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Quick answer: If you want something like Harry Potter as a young adult, try A Deadly Education, Ninth House, The Magicians, The Atlas Six, Uprooted and The Invisible Library. They offer magic schools and hidden worlds with more mature stories.
Many readers who grew up with Harry now want adult-level versions of the same thrill: hidden magic, strong friendships and dangerous secrets. They also want characters who are older and choices that are harder. These 15 books include magic schools, secret societies and fantasy adventures for readers 16 and up, and they include some mature content.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Deadly Education | Naomi Novik | 16+ | readers who want a dangerous school |
| Ninth House | Leigh Bardugo | Adult | readers who want dark academia |
| The Magicians | Lev Grossman | Adult | readers who want mature magic |
| The Atlas Six | Olivie Blake | Adult | readers who like dark academia |
| Fourth Wing | Rebecca Yarros | Adult | readers who like romance |
| Babel | R.F. Kuang | Adult | readers who like ideas |
| The Invisible Library | Genevieve Cogman | Adult | readers who love libraries |
| Uprooted | Naomi Novik | Adult | readers who like folk magic |
| The Night Circus | Erin Morgenstern | Adult | readers who like atmosphere |
| Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | 14+ | readers who like heists |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | readers who like clear rules |
| Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | 10+ | readers who want a lighter read |
| City of Bones | Cassandra Clare | 14+ | readers who like romance |
| Nevernight | Jay Kristoff | Adult | readers who want grimdark school |
| Daughter of Smoke & Bone | Laini Taylor | 14+ | readers who like lyrical writing |
1. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
El Lazarus Lake attends the Scholomance, a school where monsters hunt students. Sharp, funny and tense.
Best for: readers who want a dangerous school.
2. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Alex Stern attends Yale to monitor secret societies that practice real magic. Dark and violent.
Best for: readers who want dark academia.
3. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Quentin finds a college of magic and learns that wonder has a cost. A grown-up Hogwarts.
Best for: readers who want mature magic.
4. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Six magicians are recruited by a secret society. Cold, clever and morally gray.
Best for: readers who like dark academia.
5. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Violet enters a war college for dragon riders. Fast, spicy and addictive.
Best for: readers who like romance.
6. Babel by R.F. Kuang
Robin studies translation at Oxford, where language powers magic. Smart and angry.
Best for: readers who like ideas.
7. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
Irene, a librarian-spy, steals books from other worlds. Fast and fun.
Best for: readers who love libraries.
8. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Agnieszka is chosen by a wizard and discovers a dark forest. A fairy tale with teeth.
Best for: readers who like folk magic.
9. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Two magicians compete in a mysterious circus. Lush and slow.
Best for: readers who like atmosphere.
10. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A crew attempts an impossible heist. Funny and tense.
Best for: readers who like heists.
11. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Vin, a thief, discovers metal-based magic. A tight plot and a clever system.
Best for: readers who like clear rules.
12. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy learns he is a demigod. Funny and fast.
Best for: readers who want a lighter read.
13. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Clary learns she is a Shadowhunter. Urban fantasy with romance.
Best for: readers who like romance.
14. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
Mia Corvere joins an assassins' school to avenge her family. Dark, violent and witty.
Best for: readers who want grimdark school.
15. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Karou lives between worlds and meets an angel. Lush and romantic.
Best for: readers who like lyrical writing.
How to Choose
For a magic school with real danger, pick A Deadly Education or The Magicians. For secret societies, read Ninth House or The Atlas Six. For dragons, try Fourth Wing. For something lighter, choose Percy Jackson. Several books on this list include sex, violence and strong language, so choose according to your tolerance. If you want to reread Hogwarts while you wait, alternate: one Potter book, then one of these. For book clubs, A Deadly Education and The Magicians make a lively pair because each reimagines the magic school in a different way. Audiobooks suit the long ones like Babel and The Atlas Six. Content notes: Ninth House, Nevernight and Fourth Wing contain sexual content and violence, and A Deadly Education includes frequent peril. For lighter reads, stay with Percy Jackson, The Invisible Library and Mistborn.
Related: All 7 Harry Potter Books Ranked in Chronological Order · What Age Is The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank) Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book for adults who loved Harry Potter?
The Magicians and A Deadly Education are the most common recommendations.
Is there a book with a similar tone?
The Invisible Library is lighter and more adventurous.
Are these books good for teens?
Some are, such as Six of Crows, but others like Ninth House are for adults.
Should I reread Harry Potter?
If you want comfort, yes, because the books hold up well.
Why do adults love magic school stories?
They combine nostalgia, friendship and the thrill of discovering a hidden world.
Which book is the closest in tone to Harry Potter?
The Invisible Library and Percy Jackson are the closest in lightness and adventure.
Should I try the audiobooks?
Yes. Stephen Fry and Jim Dale narrate Potter, and many of these titles have strong audio casts as well.