Collider has published a list of six fantasy novels said to rival the Harry Potter franchise, aimed at readers who have mainly experienced fantasy through J.K. Rowling's series. The piece argues that while Harry Potter remains a cultural phenomenon since its 1997 debut, several other fantasy works match or exceed it in storytelling craft, worldbuilding and lasting influence on the genre.

Among the titles highlighted are J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring (1954), praised for its relatable characters and immersive Middle-earth worldbuilding, and Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief (2005), the first Percy Jackson book, noted for its similar "young outsider at a special school" premise reimagined through Greek mythology. The article was written by Eddie Possehl and published on 6 August 2026, with further titles in the six-book list not detailed in the available excerpt.