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Quick answer: If you loved His Dark Materials, read Philip Pullman's La Belle Sauvage and Lyra's Oxford, then Inkheart, A Wrinkle in Time, Stardust and The Magicians. All are imaginative fantasies with courageous young heroes and big ideas.
Philip Pullman's trilogy, beginning with Northern Lights (published as The Golden Compass in the US), follows Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry across worlds in a story of daemons, dust and rebellion. It is richly imagined, thoughtful and adventurous. The books below offer similar parallel worlds, young heroes and fantasy that treats readers as intelligent.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Belle Sauvage | Philip Pullman | Teen | The Book of Dust |
| Lyra's Oxford | Philip Pullman | Teen | short return |
| Inkheart | Cornelia Funke | Ages 10+ | books that come alive |
| Mortal Engines | Philip Reeve | Ages 12+ | moving cities |
| A Wrinkle in Time | Madeleine L'Engle | Ages 9-13 | science and fantasy |
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | J.K. Rowling | All ages | the classic |
| The Magicians | Lev Grossman | Adult | magic school for adults |
| Stardust | Neil Gaiman | Adult | fairy-tale romance |
| The Graveyard Book | Neil Gaiman | Ages 10+ | raised by ghosts |
| Nevermoor | Jessica Townsend | Ages 9-14 | whimsical wonder |
| Howl's Moving Castle | Diana Wynne Jones | Ages 10+ | witty magic |
| The Girl Who Drank the Moon | Kelly Barnhill | Ages 10+ | lyrical fantasy |
| Eragon | Christopher Paolini | Ages 12+ | dragon epics |
| The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien | All ages | the adventure |
| Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell | Susanna Clarke | Adult | historical magic |
1. La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman
A prequel set when Lyra is a baby, in which a boy rescues her during a flood. A return to Pullman's world.
Best for: The Book of Dust.
2. Lyra's Oxford by Philip Pullman
A short story and extras set after the trilogy. A quick visit to the world.
Best for: short return.
3. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
A girl's father can read characters out of books. Imaginative and bookish.
Best for: books that come alive.
4. Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
Cities roam the earth and eat each other. Inventive and fast.
Best for: moving cities.
5. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Meg searches for her missing father across the universe. A classic of imaginative fiction.
Best for: science and fantasy.
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
A boy learns he is a wizard. The best-known gateway to magical fantasy.
Best for: the classic.
7. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
A young man enters a secret college for magic and finds a darker world. Smart and grown-up.
Best for: magic school for adults.
8. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
A young man crosses a wall to find a fallen star. Witty and charming.
Best for: fairy-tale romance.
9. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
A boy is raised by the inhabitants of a graveyard. Eerie and tender.
Best for: raised by ghosts.
10. Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend
Morrigan Crow escapes a curse and joins a hidden city. Charming and imaginative.
Best for: whimsical wonder.
11. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
A cursed young woman finds work with the wizard Howl. Funny, warm and original.
Best for: witty magic.
12. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
A witch raises a child on moonlight. Gentle, rich and beautifully written.
Best for: lyrical fantasy.
13. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
A farm boy finds a dragon egg. A long classic fantasy.
Best for: dragon epics.
14. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins joins dwarves on a quest. A foundation of modern fantasy.
Best for: the adventure.
15. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Two magicians revive English magic in the Napoleonic era. Long, witty and rich.
Best for: historical magic.
How to Choose
For more Pullman begin with La Belle Sauvage. For parallel worlds choose A Wrinkle in Time, Inkheart or Mortal Engines. For wry, adult fantasy pick The Magicians, Stardust or Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. For younger readers try Nevermoor or The Girl Who Drank the Moon. His Dark Materials is philosophical and challenging, so it suits readers who like to think about what they read. The audiobooks of His Dark Materials, read by Pullman and a full cast, are widely praised and make a good companion to the books. Young readers who find His Dark Materials challenging can start with Harry Potter, Inkheart or A Wrinkle in Time, which are easier on the way in. Adult readers who want something sharper can try The Magicians or Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. For a final step into Pullman's world, The Book of Dust series continues Lyra's story across several volumes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is His Dark Materials about?
Lyra and Will travel between worlds in a story that involves daemons, dust and a rebellion.
Who wrote it?
Philip Pullman.
What are the three books?
Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.
Why is Northern Lights called The Golden Compass in the US?
The US edition was retitled for American readers.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 12 and up, though adults enjoy it too.
Is there a TV series?
Yes, an HBO and BBC series was made. Check current listings.
Does it have controversial themes?
It questions authority in imaginative ways, which has led to some debate.
What should I read next?
Try La Belle Sauvage or Inkheart.
In what order should I read the trilogy?
Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife, then The Amber Spyglass.
Is the series suitable for children?
It is aimed at older children and teens, and some themes are mature.