Riordan
The Lightning Thief
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Rick Riordan
Rick Riordan - 30+ books
The most natural next step for kids who finished Harry Potter. Mythology-based fantasy with humor and heart.
JR
Author - Books in order
J.K. Rowling books in order
Fantasy Author - b. July 31, 1965, Yate, Gloucestershire, England, UK - Updated June 2026
11+
novels
5+
stories
600 million+
copies sold
J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter series, which became the best-selling book series in history with over 600 million copies sold. What started as a story about an orphaned boy attending wizard school became a global phenomenon that shaped an entire generation of readers. Beyond Potter, she's written crime fiction under the pen name Robert Galbraith, and the screenplays for the Fantastic Beasts films. Her worldbuilding remains one of the most fully realized fictional universes ever created.
Rowling
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
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1
Rowling
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
✦
1
Where to start
New to Rowling? Start with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997) - a tight, self-contained read that is the definitive Rowling experience.
11+ novels - standalone, no series commitment
Publication order
Notable novels - newest readers can dip in anywhere; completists read top to bottom.
| # | Book | Year | Rating | Where to read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneStart here Fantasy | 1997 | 4.5 | Kindle $8.99Paperback $9.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $15.99 |
| 2 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Fantasy | 1998 | 4.4 | Kindle $8.99Paperback $9.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $15.99 |
| 3 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Fantasy | 1999 | 4.6 | Kindle $8.99Paperback $9.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $15.99 |
| 4 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Fantasy | 2000 | 4.6 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $12.99Audible $29.95Bookshop $19.99 |
| 5 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Fantasy | 2003 | 4.5 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $12.99Audible $34.95Bookshop $21.99 |
| 6 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Fantasy | 2005 | 4.6 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $12.99Audible $29.95Bookshop $19.99 |
| 7 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Fantasy | 2007 | 4.6 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $12.99Audible $34.95Bookshop $21.99 |
| 8 | The Casual Vacancy The Casual Vacancy Literary Fiction | 2012 | 3.3 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $10.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 9 | The Cuckoo's Calling The Cuckoo's Calling Crime / Mystery | 2013 | 3.8 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $10.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 10 | The Silkworm The Silkworm Crime / Mystery | 2014 | 3.9 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $10.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 11 | The Running Grave The Running Grave Crime / Mystery | 2023 | 3.8 | Kindle $14.99Paperback $18.99Audible $29.95Bookshop $22.99 |
Series & where they fit
Rowling's standalones are most of the work, but these series reward reading in order.
Harry Potter
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Harry Potter
Most popular7 books - 1997-2007 - Fantasy
An orphaned boy discovers he's a wizard and attends Hogwarts, where he faces the dark wizard who killed his parents.
Start with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - See order →
Cormoran Strike
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Cormoran Strike
7 books - 2013-2023 - Crime / Mystery
A war veteran turned private detective solves cases in London with his partner Robin Ellacott. Written as Robert Galbraith.
Start with The Cuckoo's Calling - See order →
Rowling
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
✦
Best book to start with
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
The most complete on-ramp to Rowling: a contained story that shows exactly why this author matters.
Build your Rowling shelf
Most-loved titles in print, or start listening free on Audible.
If you like J.K. Rowling
Authors and series with the same grip.
Pullman
Northern Lights
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Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman - 12+ books
His Dark Materials is the other great children's fantasy saga. Darker and more philosophical, but equally gripping.
J.K. Rowling books & movies in order
See every book matched to its screen version, with where to watch.
Frequently asked questions
Publication order, which is also chronological: Philosopher's Stone through Deathly Hallows. There's no other way to read them. Each book covers one school year.
A crime fiction series Rowling writes under the pen name Robert Galbraith. They follow a private detective in London and are completely unrelated to Harry Potter. They're solid, traditional British crime novels.
It's an officially licensed stage play script, not a novel. Rowling co-created the story with Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. Most fans treat it as separate from the main seven books.
Contains affiliate linksUpdated June 2026