There’s something irresistible about stepping into a magical school, where lessons are filled with enchantment, friendships are tested, and destiny is not always what it seems. Harry Potter introduced readers to the wonder of Hogwarts, a school where young witches and wizards honed their craft, battled dark forces, and unraveled the mystery of their own identities. The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani offers a similarly immersive experience but with its own unique twist, turning the idea of a magical school on its head by questioning what it truly means to be good or evil. For readers who fell in love with Hogwarts, this series provides an equally rich and layered world, filled with wonder, danger, and a story that challenges traditional fantasy tropes.
One of the biggest draws of Harry Potter is Hogwarts itself—an institution filled with moving staircases, hidden passages, and magical classes that shape young wizards into powerful figures. The School for Good and Evil brings a fresh take on this concept by introducing not one, but two competing academies. Instead of training students to be wizards, the school splits them into two paths: future fairy tale heroes and future villains. Sophie, a girl who dreams of becoming a princess, is convinced she belongs in the School for Good, while her cynical best friend, Agatha, seems destined for the School for Evil. However, when the two are placed in the opposite schools of what they expected, their entire understanding of fate, identity, and morality is thrown into question.
Where Hogwarts teaches spells and potions, the School for Good and Evil offers lessons in heroism and villainy. Students in the School for Good are taught how to charm princes, develop their beauty, and master acts of kindness, while those in the School for Evil are trained in curses, cruelty, and mastering their inner darkness. This inversion of traditional fairy tale roles adds a layer of depth that fans of Harry Potter will appreciate—especially those who loved the nuanced portrayal of characters like Snape, Draco Malfoy, and even Harry himself, who struggled with both light and dark elements within their own personalities.
At its heart, Harry Potter is not just about magic—it’s about friendship, self-discovery, and the choices that define us. Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s relationship is the emotional core of the series, proving time and time again that love and loyalty are more powerful than any spell. The School for Good and Evil also places friendship at the center of its story, but with an added twist: what happens when two best friends are forced into opposing roles?
Sophie and Agatha’s dynamic is complex, layered, and deeply emotional. They begin the story believing they understand their own identities, only to have those beliefs shattered by the world they enter. Sophie’s obsession with being "good" and Agatha’s reluctance to embrace the darker aspects of herself mirror the way Harry Potter challenges preconceived notions of heroism and villainy. Just as Harry learns that bravery can be found in unexpected places and that even the "good" side has its flaws, Sophie and Agatha must navigate a world where the line between good and evil is far blurrier than they ever imagined.
One of the reasons Harry Potter remains so compelling is the way its world expands with each book, revealing deeper histories, hidden alliances, and secrets lurking beneath the surface. The School for Good and Evil follows a similar pattern, introducing a fairy tale-inspired universe that, at first glance, seems simple but quickly unfolds into something far more complex.
The school itself is full of enchantments, legendary figures, and ancient traditions, much like Hogwarts. But what makes it particularly intriguing is the way it deconstructs classic fantasy tropes. Are princesses always pure-hearted? Are villains always doomed to darkness? The deeper the story goes, the more it challenges these ideas, making readers question everything they thought they knew about fairy tales.
This element of hidden truths and larger forces at play is something Harry Potter fans will appreciate, especially those who enjoyed unraveling the mysteries of the wizarding world—whether it was discovering the truth about the Deathly Hallows, Snape’s hidden loyalties, or the origins of Voldemort’s power. The School for Good and Evil is filled with similar revelations that redefine what the characters—and readers—believe about the world they inhabit.
Both Harry Potter and The School for Good and Evil excel at balancing lighthearted humor with moments of real darkness and emotional weight. Hogwarts may have its whimsical moments, with mischievous poltergeists and bewitched chocolate frogs, but it also has its haunted corridors, its tragic losses, and its battles against the forces of evil. The School for Good and Evil takes a similar approach, weaving in humor and satire alongside darker themes of identity, destiny, and betrayal.
The book doesn’t shy away from exploring the cost of power, the pressure of expectation, and the reality that no one is purely good or evil. Just as Harry Potter showed that courage can exist in Slytherins and selfishness can exist in Gryffindors, The School for Good and Evil reveals that true goodness and wickedness are far more complicated than the fairy tales would have us believe.
What makes Harry Potter so beloved is not just its magic, but its heart. It’s a story about belonging, about questioning who you are, and about choosing your own path, no matter what the world expects of you. The School for Good and Evil embraces these same themes, offering a fresh take on what it means to be a hero, a villain, and everything in between.
For readers who loved the magic of Hogwarts but are looking for a new kind of school, for those who enjoyed the depth of Harry’s friendships and the struggles with identity that shaped his journey, The School for Good and Evil is an unforgettable adventure. It challenges expectations, redefines fairy tale logic, and offers a world that feels as immersive, enchanting, and thought-provoking as anything found within the walls of Hogwarts.