A while back, I put together a list of great epic fantasy books for those waiting for George R. R. Martin to finally publish the next Game of Thrones installment (I know it’s the A Song of Ice and Fire series, but thanks to the power of HBO, no point calling it something else).

That got me thinking of putting together another list of recommended fantasy reads, less epic, less Tolkien, but  more magic / Harrypotteresque.

No point including the Harry Potter books here (if you haven’t read them (or at least seen the films) you’re probably in the wrong blog. But maybe these books will interest you:

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – Sussanna Clarke

Readers of this blog will surely recognise this book as one of my top reads of all time. And if you still haven’t gotten around to reading it, I strongly recommend you to do so. Set during Napoleonic times, a tale of two rival magicians (the real kind, not illusionists) in a time when magic had long disappeared and is slowly coming back. A wonderful read. What I wouldn’t give for a sequel?!

The Rook – Daniel O’malley

Man, was this fun to read. There are countless books of hidden magic set in modern times, with a “Ministry of Magic” type organization overseeing it. And The Rook could’ve easily fallen into the generic wasteland if not for the extremely clever mystery plot and incredible character building. The sequel Stilleto is out next year, and it’s already been pre-ordered. Highly recommended!

The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern

Similar to Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, a wonderful magical romance played out in the backdrop of a traveling circus. Outstanding work. Loved every word of it. I’m not one for love stories, but this one was one for the ages.

The Magicians – Lev Grossman

I recently reviewed the Lev Grossman’s latest (and final) entry to his The Magicians trilogy. Won’t repeat it here, but the fact that’s in this select list should make you sit up and notice. You should buy them. Now.

The Golem and the Jinni – Helen Wecker

An incredible tale of magical creatures from very different cultures, colliding in turn of 20th century New York and forming a remarkable friendship. Well worth a read.

Bartimaeus Trilogy – Jonathan Stroud

A bit more for younger generations, but still an amazing read. In a parallel time where magic is commonplace through the control of magical demons, its the remarkable tale of the Djinni Bartimaeus and his young master. I loved the entire series, and I think if you haven’t come across them, you would love them too.

His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman

Set in a parallel world (like so many), this series stands out for its amazing use of religion, mythologies, parallel universes. Having gone to Oxford myself, I was able to trace Lyra’s footsteps in this magical world. If you haven’t read the books, I suggest you put them quite high on your to-read list.

Beyond the above, be sure to include anything Neil Gaiman has written in this genre. (way too many to list here, but amongst others. make sure to read Neverwhere, American Gods, The Graveyard Book).