[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Other books like the Harry Potter series books?

[Sue Wartell]

   > [Stephanie]:> | Just wondering since this wonderful series is over in both books and 
> | movies is there another series like this or has magic in that I might 

> | like to check out? OR any books that I might could check out 
> | and see what I like?
> 

I really thoroughly enjoyed "A Discovery of Witches" by Deborah Harkness.  It's the first part of a trilogy, so there is more to come.  The characters are adults, rather than children, but as in Potter, the witches are hiding in plain sight in our world.  There are also demons and vampires, but before you run screaming in the other direction, let me assure you that the vampires are entirely different than any others I've encountered in the realms of fiction, and the demons are the highly creative, slightly disconnected folks of this world.  Beyond that, I don't want to say anything for fear of spoilers. 


Another variation on magic in our world with young protagonists is the series by Michael Scott called "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel"  It's different in feel; a pair of twins get swept into a battle between Immortals and learn to control the elemental magics as the world is swept towards a battle between good and evil.  Mythologies from all over the world get pulled into the story, which greatly adds to the entertainment in my opinion.    There's one more book to be published, for a total of six.  I was a bit disappointed with the last one, but am still eagerly awaiting the final episode.


Moving a good deal further afield, if you want a great author with a large body of work, try Lois McMaster Bujold.  She has 2 fantasy series.  The Sharing Knife is set in an alternate North America, making it rather different than most fantasy I've read, and there is magic.  The other series is set in the Chalion universe, where magic is a part of the fabric of the world, and the gods (all 5 of them) are active participants.  They are challenging in terms best described by a quote from one of her non-magical books, paraphrased because I don't want to spend the rest of the evening rereading the book (and I will, if I open it)  - "Check your assumptions. In fact, check your assumptions at the door."  The non-magical series is about the Vorkosigan family and their world.  It gets described as space opera, and it is that, but much more as well.

Yes, I love pushing books I have enjoyed! Why do you ask?  ;-)

Sue


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