Do you remember getting acquainted with the Harry Potter series for the first time when J.K. Rowling released the first book, The Philosopher’s Stone? Nothing beats that feeling of exploring a new world in which a seemingly normal child goes to the magic school and becomes a hero.
Magical worlds, spells, and capes – we still love all of that today. But let's admit it: we're not kids anymore. As we have grown up, the types of novels we enjoy change. We now prefer complex stories, as complex as our lives. Life isn’t all black and white; it has many grey areas. Timid teenage kisses have been replaced by real relationships, and our pain threshold when it comes to violence and fear is higher.
What we need is books like Harry Potter for adults. We’ve put together a list of audiobooks for Harry Potter fans that have grown up. Hit play on the best fantasy audiobooks that will take you back to your Hogwarts days. If you love Harry Potter books, these audiobook recommendations will leave you on the edge of your seat as you enjoy them in audio form.
London street cop Peter Grant sees ghosts while questioning witnesses – and is promptly assigned to a special unit that deals with paranormal crimes. Guided by mentor Thomas Nightingale, sorcerer's apprentice Peter learns the art of magic.
Ben Aaronovitch has more to do with science and Latin than Harry Potter, and it's even more dangerous. Whimsical, full of ideas and British humour, this cross between urban fantasy and cop crime is just the ticket for alumni from Hogwarts. They're also old enough now for things like flesh-eating sex organs and decomposing faces.
British actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith brings the Rivers of London series to life with a dramatic performance that will grip you from start to finish.
Harry Dresden is the American equivalent of Peter Grant. In this fantasy book set in modern-day Chicago, the private detective and magician solves extremely unusual cases. Black magic, lots of adult action, humour, and an intriguing main character await new fans. Apart from the protagonist’s first name, the series shares a fascinating parallel world with Harry Potter. Even with the 17 titles that have been released from the series, The Dresden Files is far from over.
The world-building series is brought to audio by the actor James Marsters. You might recognise him from the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Think of The Magicians like a college version of Harry Potter. This series by Lev Grossman is darker, more thoughtful, and more complex. Quentin Coldwater is a privileged New Yorker who graduates from high school and gets accepted into a secret magic school. It's about love, sex, and alcohol instead of Bertie Bott's beans and Quidditch. Follow along as Quentin and his friends travel to a magical world without knowing what they are getting into. If you loved Harry Potter, you’ll love this grown-up fantasy novel.
The series is performed by the experienced American actor Mark Bramhall who has won countless awards for his voice acting work, including Audie Awards and AudioFile awards.
Harry Potter meets The Lord of the Rings in this thrilling audiobook series. The Name of the Wind is the first instalment of the Kingkiller Chronicle series. In this epic fantasy series by Patrick Rothfuss, we follow the orphan boy Kvothe's rise to fame as a magician. Kvothe also ends up in a school of magic, but unlike Harry Potter, we experience it all through Kovthe's own eyes, told from the first-person perspective.
This New York Times bestseller is brought to audio by the British-Australian actor Rupert Joel Degas, who is known for his voice work in animation series and audiobooks.
The Mistborn Saga fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson begins with The Final Empire. Like Harry Potter, this is a coming-of-age story set in a magical world – only this time, the main character is a girl. Another different thing is that the young protagonist, Vin, competes against adults. Sanderson showcases his fantastic storytelling skills once again in The Bands of Morning with its strong plot and well-developed characters.
American narrator Michael Kramer lends his excellent voice acting skills to the sixth title of this fantasy saga. One of the best audiobooks surrounding magic and wizardry, this captivating listen will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
The Fate of the Tearling is the final instalment of the best-selling Queen of the Tearling trilogy by American author Erika Johansen. In a future world set in the Middle Ages, 19-year-old Princess Kelsea Glynn must save her kingdom from the Red Queen, an evil sorceress. Like Harry Potter, the princess grew up in exile. In the series, Kelsea will either become the most fearsome ruler the kingdom has ever known or be dead within the week. British actor and narrator Polly Lee does the story justice with her stunning narration. Fans of Harry Potter and fantasy fiction in general won’t want to miss out on this New York Times best-selling series.
London Falling is the debut title of Paul Cornell’s Shadow Police series. The British writer is known for his TV screenwriting work on Doctor Who. In the series, detective James Quill and his team, equipped with the "second sight", carry out investigations in London, where a resurrected Jack The Ripper and the ghost of Sherlock Holmes get in their way. Like in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the series features scenes in everyday London and a city filled with magic. Experienced narrator and Audible regular Damian Lynch gives the series an authentic London timbre that makes you feel as though you’re there with Detective Quill and company.
His Dark Materials is the thrilling fantasy trilogy that made author Philip Pullman a literary sensation. As you follow orphan Lyra on a journey to find her father, you will become immersed in a fantastical alternative universe bursting with an array of fascinating references to philosophy, theology, and physics. Jumping from one world to another, this series is a welcome break from reality.
Brought to life by a talented cast of narrators, this spellbinding series will hook you from the very beginning. With a strong female protagonist and an equally-mesmerising array of supporting characters, His Dark Materials is a must-listen for fantasy fans.
Author Neil Gaiman is widely considered to be the modern master of storytelling, especially in the fantasy genre, and he proves this reputation in Neverwhere. It all starts on an ordinary day. After stopping to help a stranger, protagonist Richard Mayhew finds his life changed forever. His small act of kindness abruptly plunges him into a dark and unexplored world deep beneath the streets of London, filled with a variety of interesting, strange, and sometimes scary creatures.
Narrated by an all-star cast, including James McAvoy, Natalie Dormer and Benedict Cumberbatch, this enthralling tale is given a new lease of life in Audible form.
The book that inspired the Sky original production, A Discovery of Witches is a dark and bloody fantasy that will have listeners wanting more and more. Starting in the innocent and ordinary Bodleian Library, protagonist Diana Bishop discovers something exciting and mysterious: a long-lost manuscript. What seems to be a simple book drags Diana into a deep and fascinating underworld, which she must power through with the help of a new vampire companion.
A descendant of witches, Diana is thrown into a journey that holds the secret of her ancestors, and the key to her future. This title by Deborah Harkness is a fantastic listen for any fantasy fan.
The first instalment of the Shades of Magic series, A Darker Shade of Magic takes place in London, which isn’t the city you know. In this fantasy world, London consists of several different parallel Londons: Red London, Grey London, White London, and the now non-existent Black London. With each London having a fascinating different past and story, Red London ambassador Kell is tasked with jumping between the different Londons. However, Kell’s dark and dangerous dealings soon throw them into hot water when a deal goes wrong.
A fantastical tale of danger and survival, A Darker Shade of Magic immerses you into a thrilling parallel universe full of unexpected twists and turns.
The Pennyroyal Academy is no ordinary school. The setting of this novel by M.A. Larson is a place where future princesses and knights receive the best education to prepare them for a life of fighting witches and dragons. When Evie, a mysterious girl with no knowledge of her past, enlists at the Pennyroyal Academy, she is thrown into a world of tough and brutal training under an unforgiving fairy. Despite the gruelling regime, she learns more about herself and what it means to be a princess.
However, chaos is not far away, and with a war of witches fast approaching, Evie is soon thrown into a battle which is closer to her heart than she could have ever imagined.
This New York Times bestseller from Leigh Bardugo, author of the acclaimed Shadow and Bone, is set in the elite world of academia, where nothing is quite what it seems. After being involved in a horrific crime, Galaxy ‘Alex’ Stern wakes up in the hospital to startling news: the offer of a full scholarship to Yale University. As Ninth House soon reveals, Alex’s free ticket to an Ivy League education comes with a mandatory assignment: monitoring Yale’s secret societies and their mysterious, sinister activities.
When a girl is found dead on campus, Alex knows there is more to her death than the police and the university say. The secret societies have powers and abilities beyond what anyone could imagine, and Alex is the key to discovering the truth.
Fans of Harry Potter will instantly get immersed in the world of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Both series follow the adventures of a young boy with unimaginable powers. New York Times best-selling author Rick Riordan introduces listeners to 12-year-old Percy in The Lightning Thief, the first title in the series. Like Harry, Percy starts off as a seemingly normal kid with a knack for attracting trouble. After accidentally vaporising his maths teacher, Percy is sent to Camp Half Blood and discovers his true identity as a demigod.
From there, he is thrown into a world of mythical gods and monsters, where he must battle evil forces and vengeful foes while navigating his newly found superhuman abilities. You won’t want to miss out on this awesome fantasy novel, narrated by Jesse Bernstein, or its sequels.
Like J.K. Rowling’s iconic series, The Night Circus is a thrilling piece of fantasy fiction with plenty of magic and eerie twists and turns. Author Erin Morgenstern pulls listeners into the night circus, a travelling circus that appeared out of nowhere in 1886. The spectacle seems to cast a spell over its audiences. Along with danger and adventure, this enthralling audiobook features a good measure of romance, following a budding relationship between two young magicians.
British actor and musician Jim Dale’s superb narration does this romantic fantasy story justice. The Night Circus is a must-listen for any fan of the genre and a classic in its own right.
Fans of Harry Potter that are now grown up will likely be familiar with the popular Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games film trilogy. Packed with action and danger, the series is set in the dystopian state of Panem. Every year, each of the twelve districts that surround the Capitol must send a young girl and a young boy to participate in the nationally televised Hunger Games and battle it out to the death. 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take part in place of her younger sister, and what follows is a story of love, loss, and extreme bravery.
Emmy Award-winning actress Tatiana Maslany expertly narrates this special edition of the audiobook, making it a captivating listen from start to finish.
