Harry Potter books get millions of people reading them year by year. They are not just for kids, but grownups also love the idea of diving into a magical world and bringing back childhood memories. These are the types of books whose readers literally devour words about characters who feel like family.

That’s the type of reading Harry Potter is about… But if you’re like me, you know how depressive it feels when it ends. You hope such adventures last forever, so you’re desperately trying to find a substitute. My kids experienced the exact same thing once they finished the last release.

So, what do you pick up next to get back in the mood?

I've tried everything, and to be honest with you, there are a few books out there that can bring in a similar level of fascination. You know, the type of books you just can’t put down. All in all, here are a few magical school books to take you out of the Harry Potter doldrums.

Not just my best recommendations, but my kids’ as well.

For the sake of peace of mind, I selected the first book in the series, allowing you to experience the story as it was meant to be told from the very beginning.

What Are The Top Schools of Magic Books?

Guardians Of Glyndor, by Nicoleclaire C (2024)

This is the beginning of a new series and, by far, one of the best magical school books I could recommend. The concept is the same: a bunch of kids who can save the world. However, I would dare to say this book is a bit better than what you'll get in Harry Potter. It's just more modern in storyline.

Apart from the classic adventures you’ll get in magical school books, this one brings in a bit of romance as well, not to mention a sprinkle of mystery. I’ll keep it short, I won’t give you any spoilers.

Jesse and Emily are different from the rest, so they’re recruited to join a magical school hidden between different dimensions, only to sharpen their special skills. However, there’s a bad vibe around, especially when some of the creatures there start disappearing.

One little quest leads to another, only for the magical community to understand that a banished sorcerer is behind all these. And he’s not planning to stop here, as he’s planning to reshape everything in revenge. Jesse and Emily realize they’re in a race against time here.

It's quite an adventure, but it's definitely a fast-paced one that will hook you in. It's mainly aimed at kids and teenagers, but trust me, you'll find it quite fun too for a Sunday afternoon. I see it becoming a movie at some point.

Nevermoor (Nevermoor Book 1), by Jessica Townsend

The best part about this Harry Potter-esque adventure is the fact that you already have some continuity. Trying to keep your kid busy with some magical school books? This is only the first release in the Nevermoor series, with three other books already out there.

I’ve read the series as well. I know, these books are for kids, but you can’t help it when your kids only talk about them and nothing else, so I had to “educate” myself. Long story short, Morrigan is cursed. She was born on the worst possible day, the Eventide, so she gets blamed for everything.

The problem is she’s supposed to die on her eleventh birthday. She knows she can’t change her fate, but apparently, someone else can. Jupiter North is a mysterious man who decides to hide her in a magical place.

She’s not there for a good time though. She has to compete against many other kids in order to join a prestigious society. She knows that she’ll die if she leaves Nevermoor, so she’ll try her best to succeed.

It sounds childish, but it’s fast paced and takes place in a beautiful world. My kids rate it among the best magical school books out there. It’s different from Harry Potter and like I said, there’s some continuity once the first book is over. That’s great!

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book 1), by Riordan Rick

You may not know this book as The Lightning Thief, but what if I told you it’s the first book in the Percy Jackson series? I know, most kids today would know the Disney+ series, but it’s all based on a stunning book. And you know what they say, it’s easy on TV, but the book is much, much better.

I went through this book with one of my kids, so I’m aware of all the action. Quite appealing, especially each book in the series has a different theme. This first book brings in Greek mythology (which I’m obsessed with), so it was a pretty nice read for me too.

Anyway, Percy is in a boarding school, but things aren't going great. He's a bit of a rebel, always ready for a fight, but the thing is, he's just following his morals. He's not going to watch his best friend getting bullied, is he?

Long story short, no one's too happy when Zeus' lighting bolt disappears. Someone's nicked it, and obviously, everyone's looking at Percy. Now, along with a few friends, he has to travel the world in order to solve the mystery.

As I said, this is only the first book in the series. My advice is to get all of them for your kid. Once they're done with the magical school books, they can watch the movie, then check out the Disney+ series. I think it's the best order to do it right and trust me, this will keep them busy for months.

The Magicians Trilogy Boxed Set, by Lev Grossman (2014)

This is another winner among magical school books. It's not the classic type of magic in a mystical world but more like urban fantasy. And in this subgenre, Lev Grossman's work stands out. Again, it's only the first book in the series, there's a couple of more books in the trilogy, enough to keep a kid busy for a while.

The story follows Quentin. He’s a math genius, but he’s not happy. He dreams about a mystical world known as Fillory, which is far from what he’s going through in real life. Things change overnight when he gets accepted into a secret college for magic.

It's not what he expected, though. He imagined a perfect world, but there's no such thing. The world he's in has some dark secrets as well. It's a dark world with plenty of mysteries waiting to unfold. All he dreamed about seemed nothing but an imaginary tale.

It sounds like a dead end, but the truth is something might change. Anyway, I’ll let you discover this yourself. If you’ve loved Harry Potter’s adventures or getting lost in Narnia, you can’t go wrong with The Magicians.

And remember, this is only a prequel, I find the upcoming books to be even better, but you have to start somewhere for everything to make sense later.

Akarnae (Medoran Chronicles Book 1), by Lynette Noni

While original, Akarnae is a mix of everything. This book is for everyone who likes the action in X-Men, the magical worlds of Narnia, and the characters in Harry Potter. It's one of those magical school books with a twist. And yes, there's a whole series behind it, with six books altogether.

Alex’s first day in a new school changes her life straight away. Curious to explore the building, she finds an unusual doorway and walks through it. That was it. There she is in Medora, a different world where nothing really makes sense.

She's desperate to go back home, but there's only one professor who can help her. And that professor can't be found. Meanwhile, she keeps busy attending a local academy. She discovers some new abilities, and she ends up loving this world of impossibilities.

But there’s tension in the air. The world is about to crumble. There are mysteries to be solved and conflicts to be annihilated before she can come back to her own world. Alex has to make a choice now. Plenty of adventure, bizarre experiences and lots of magical action, that’s what you’ll find in the series.

Zodiac Academy (Zodiac Academy Book 1), by Caroline Peckham (2021)

Zodiac Academy is slightly different from the average magical school books for kids, I’d say it’s mainly aimed at older teenagers. It’s quite interesting if you’re into fantasy stories and believe it or not, there are 12 books in the series.

The story follows an impulsive yet curious Gemini, studying in a dangerous school where every creature does whatever they want. The main character is a Fae, who might be in the wrong academy.

Vampires bite students, werewolves have orgies and on top of all these, one of the teachers leaves everyone in need of therapy. Every student has to fight in order to survive in this school. And for a Fae with no connections, it looks like mission impossible.

The story is dark yet appealing. It features elements of romance, action and magic. To succeed, the Fae must go beyond the limits and eventually go on the dark side as well. It's a bumpy road, but there's some light at the end of the tunnel.

Final Thoughts on The Best Magical School Books and Series

Bottom line, I could probably go on with a few other useful titles, but I believe these magical school books are more than enough to satisfy the emptiness left after completing the Harry Potter books.