For those who finished Harry Potter and are looking for a fantasy series that offers deep world-building, thrilling adventure, and thought-provoking themes, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman is an excellent choice. While it differs from Harry Potter in its approach to magic and storytelling, it shares many of the qualities that made J.K. Rowling’s series so beloved—an unforgettable protagonist, a richly developed universe, and a battle between powerful forces that will shape the fate of the world. With its blend of adventure, philosophy, and intricate fantasy, His Dark Materials is the perfect series for readers looking for something both familiar and refreshingly different.
Much like Harry, Lyra Belacqua begins her journey as an orphan living in a world she doesn’t fully understand. Raised at Jordan College in Oxford, Lyra is mischievous, bold, and fiercely independent. She doesn’t fit the mold of a traditional hero, but that’s what makes her so compelling. Like Harry, she finds herself caught up in events far greater than herself, forced to make difficult choices that will shape not just her own fate but the fate of an entire universe. As she travels from Oxford to the frozen North and beyond, Lyra grows in courage, wisdom, and emotional depth, making her a protagonist that readers will root for just as passionately as they did for Harry.
One of the greatest strengths of Harry Potter is how immersive its world feels—Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and the Ministry of Magic are places that readers can picture in vivid detail. His Dark Materials offers an equally rich and immersive universe, but instead of a single magical society, it presents multiple parallel worlds, each with its own cultures, beliefs, and hidden mysteries. Lyra’s world is one of airships, armored bears, and a powerful organization known as the Magisterium, which seeks to control knowledge and suppress free thought. As the story progresses, Lyra’s journey takes her beyond her own world and into new realms filled with strange beings, hidden truths, and dangers she never imagined. Like Harry Potter, the series makes readers feel as though they are exploring a living, breathing world—one that is as enchanting as it is perilous.
Just as Harry Potter revolves around the struggle between good and evil—embodied by the conflict between Harry and Voldemort—His Dark Materials presents its own grand battle between forces that seek to control humanity and those fighting for freedom and knowledge. Instead of an all-powerful dark wizard, the central antagonist is the oppressive Magisterium, a powerful religious authority that seeks to control the truth and suppress the nature of Dust, a mysterious substance that plays a crucial role in the universe. The themes of power, control, and free will make His Dark Materials a more philosophical and introspective read than Harry Potter, but it still carries the same sense of urgency and high-stakes adventure. Readers who appreciated the deeper themes in Harry Potter, particularly in its later books, will find His Dark Materials to be an equally thought-provoking experience.
While Harry Potter presents magic in a traditional sense—spells, potions, and wands—His Dark Materials introduces a different kind of fantastical element. Instead of wizards, Lyra’s world is filled with dæmons, external manifestations of a person’s soul that take the form of animals and change shape during childhood before settling permanently in adulthood. The existence of dæmons adds an emotional and philosophical dimension to the story, as they symbolize identity, conscience, and the connection between individuals. In addition to dæmons, the series introduces alethiometers (truth-telling devices), mysterious parallel universes, and the concept of Dust, a substance tied to consciousness and knowledge. Just as Harry Potter explores the idea of destiny and the choices that define us, His Dark Materials grapples with questions about fate, belief, and what it means to be truly free.
One of the reasons Harry Potter is so beloved is that it matures with its readers, moving from a whimsical school story to a darker, more complex battle between good and evil. His Dark Materials is similar in that it challenges readers to think critically about the world around them. It explores themes of power, authority, faith, and the nature of the soul in a way that is both compelling and accessible. Readers who grew up with Harry Potter and are looking for a series that respects their intelligence and encourages deeper reflection will find His Dark Materials to be a rewarding and thought-provoking journey.
His Dark Materials is an ideal series to read after Harry Potter because it offers the same sense of wonder, adventure, and character-driven storytelling while introducing more complex themes and a unique approach to fantasy. With its unforgettable heroine, richly imagined world, and a battle between forces that seek to control or liberate humanity, the series is both thrilling and thought-provoking. While it may not offer a traditional magic school or a chosen one narrative, it delivers an experience just as immersive and emotionally powerful as Harry Potter. For those looking for a fantasy series that challenges, excites, and expands the imagination, His Dark Materials is a perfect next step.