Harry Potter discussion

I would like to create a recommendation section for people who enjoyed the Harry Potter series (because I find that the Goodreads recommendations don't cut it for me!!). I will be following this guideline, and I encourage you to please do the same!! Please keep all of the following SPOILER FREE!!

1. Book title, including a link and author's name, if possible. Also include length of series.

2. Brief summary of the novel/series

3. Why would a Harry Potter fan enjoy it?

4. What age group do you think would enjoy this book?

5. Is there any content that you feel is inappropriate for younger readers? Please try to consider the most sensitive of readers, even if you yourself do not see an aspect as being too mature for your reading preferences!

1. Inkheart Trilogy by Cornelia Funke
Currently three books published; the trilogy has a definite ending. A fourth book that takes place many years later is expected "not before 2019."
*This author sends autographed bookplates*

2. Meggie discovers that her father, Mo, has a mysterious secret: when he reads books aloud, the characters escape the worlds contained within the book pages! Upon meeting these fantastical characters, Meggie soon discovers that some of them want to return to their stories--while some of them do not, and the villian her father once read out of a book wishes to bring his monster into Meggie's world.

3. Harry Potter introduced many of us to a love of fantasy and all things books. Inkheart explores what it would be like to finally meet the characters from our beloved stories. The Inkheart trilogy is rich with fantasy and magic-like powers, as well as dark villians and traitors that you can't help but love.

4. Ages 8 and up, including teens and even young adults because the characters are so interesting and the premise is fascinating.

5. There is some violence and death throughout the series, but nothing more intense than in the Harry Potter books. There is also some mention of kissing in books two and three.

1. The Amulet of Samarkand and the entire Bartimaeus series by Jonathan Stroud
There are three books that make up the main trilogy, and there is also a fourth book published that takes place separate from the events of the trilogy.

2. Nathaniel, a young magician's apprentice, summons the djinn Bartimaeus to help him seek revenge on another magician who humiliated him.

3. While Harry Potter introduced us to magic from a Muggle perspective, the Bartimaeus series shows an alternative London where magicians practice magic and train apprentices through the government; they are the heads of country, above any non-magic commoners. The series is rich with wit and clever humor, and it explores a fascinating relationship between the master magicians and enslaved djinns throughout the trilogy.

4. Ages 8 and up, again including teens with a witty or sarcastic edge. Bartimaeus narrates with a strong voice, and the third-person perspectives of the other characters provide important background information.
Note: The narration follows two (and up to three) timelines depending on which perspective is being used. The Bartimaeus chapters are written in past-tense but represent the present, while the Nathaniel chapters take place several years before the first scene, showing the build-up to the initial chapter.

5. Like all fantasies, there is some magic violence including a beating, which is essential to the plot but not written in a disturbing way. The sarcasm is thick but rarely distasteful.

Julia wrote: "1. The Amulet of Samarkand and the entire Bartimaeus series by Jonathan Stroud
There are three books that make up the main trilogy, and there is also a fourth book publ..."

Bartimaeus was an amazing series... definitely for HP fans!

Lizzie wrote: "I just was recommended to read the Belgariad series through this thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...#
I haven't read them yet but they sound really i..."

I saw that post, so it inspired me to make this thread!! I will add Belgarath and Polgara here soon... I have yet to read the Belgariad pentology (on my to-read list) but Belgarath and then Polgara are the prequel/sequel to the Belgaraid, each one narrated by the title character. With little background knowledge of the Belgariad, I found them both very enjoyable on their own! (But read Belgarath before Polgara)

1. The Princess Bride by William Goldman (stand-alone)

2. A beautiful princess, set to marry an evil prince, is rescued by her true love, a kind farm boy. Before they can achieve their happily ever after, they are joined by a swordsman intent on gaining revenge for the death of his father and his giant companion. They battle fire swamps and Rodents of Unusual Size in a land on the brink of war. The story is told from a grandfather reading a book to his grandson, who is at home sick. Meanwhile, the first half of the book tells a fictional tale from the author of how the story was read to him as a child and how Goldman has sinced abridged the tale from S. Morgenstern's original book. (There is no S. Morgenstern, but it is an interesting idea!)

3. It has a magical atmosphere with fascinating characters who are as complex as the ones in Harry Potter. It is NOT merely a mushy love story--it has so much wit and charm, and the plot is very engaging!

4. Ages 8 and up. Again, there is a central love story, but it is an exciting adventure tale that can be enjoyed by all!!

5. Revenge plot and sword fights, but all tastefully and enjoyably done. While the main character, Buttercup, boldly declares her love for Westley, every bit of the love story can be laughed at and appreciated all at once!

1. Scorched by Mari Mancusi (Trilogy)
*This author sends autographed bookplates/novels*

2. When a supposed "dragon egg" is brought to her grandfather's museum, Trinity meets two boys who have travelled back in time from the future to save the world from an apocalypse that the dragon is set to cause. One brother tells her the dragon must be killed and the other tells her that it must be saved, but the dragon has already imprinted on her, and soon Trinity realizes the importance of her choice.

3. It has many themes similar to Harry Potter, specifically dragons, time travel, and the importance of choice. It introduces magic to an otherwise "muggle" and modern day, much like Harry Potter did.

4. Probably female, 12 and up, because the central character is a teenage girl.

5. Some descriptive make-out scenes. Also imagery of injured dragons, and the main character faces many deaths of loved ones, at one point including someone she probably could have saved. A *tad* corny at times, but it is still one of my favourite series!

I am interested in a story between fred and hermione

I should add more recommendations soon!