Always Confused on How Many Harry Potter Books are There?
7! No, wait! There are eight Harry Potter movies, so 8 books. Nuh-uh. The Cursed Child book came out too! So 9 books. Seriously, how many harry potter books are there?
Children, teenagers, and adults alike! Whether you want to read the Harry Potter stories because you are curious or because it has been on your wish list for a few months too many.
Or maybe your child has been raving about Hogwarts School and Lord Voldemort, and you want to understand their Harry Potter references; if you are an avid fantasy reader, the Harry Potter books won’t disappoint you.
How many harry potter books are there, you ask? Well, mind you, and me! This question revolves around discussion forums and fan club meetings, and even generally so because the adaptation of the Harry Potter books into movies has caused a hell of a lot of confusion.
Yet another reason for this confusion has been the ‘Cursed Child’ stage play. Is it a novel? Is it an extension to the Harry Potter series, or is it a part?
Because the last time we read ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts I and II’, it was supposed to be a play script. Hence, the question remains – how many harry potter books are there?
Before I quench your curiosity, read carefully and proceed with caution.
Muggles (non-magic people) find it difficult to digest that there is a whole community of witches and wizards, and we, at Icy Tales, absolutely do not commend discrimination based on the magical status of a person.
There are pure-blood, half-blood, muggle-born witches, and there are muggles. Once you get down the following facts, you will be itching to pick up the harry potter books and learn what entails your magical status.
Now, assuming that you have decided to continue exploring the wizarding world, let me finally tell you how many harry potter books are there, officially.
There are originally seven books in the Harry Potter series, written by J.K. Rowling, and all their titles begin as “Harry Potter and the…”
Next, three complementary or companion books are written and approved by everyone’s dear author, J.K. Rowling.
Further, the book that comprises the ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ play starts as a continuation to the seventh book in the Harry Potter series. Hence, it is often referred to as the eighth Harry Potter book for convenience. However, keep in mind that it is just the script for the play.
We also have 2 original screenplays for the Fantastic Beasts establishment. These books are a part of the Wizarding World, but not the Harry Potter Series.
Three e-books which comprise short stories, were released together by J.K. Rowling in 2016. These were previously available at Pottermore, but the site was redesigned as wizardingworld.com in 2015.
I know you might be wondering that there are seven Harry Potter books. Then, how come there are eight movies? What wizardry is this? Well, there’s no wand magic here—just some good old film-making attributes.
The seventh book in the Harry Potter series has been split into two parts for the movie adaptation. Hence, when you browse through the Harry Potter movies list, you will find Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part I and II, making it into a total of 8 movies.
Here’s a list of all the Harry Potter books mentioned above, in order. And please, don’t skip the list or close this window.
I solemnly swear that I won’t be giving out any spoilers in the book descriptions.
The Original Harry Potter Stories, written by J.K. Rowling
When you talk about how many Harry Potter books there are, these seven should be your primary answer.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows.
The title ‘Harry Potter and the…’ is based on the stories’ main character.
1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
First published in 1947, this book is also titled ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’, mainly in the U.S. This book starts with a mystical chapter consisting of cats, owls, and weird people. The Philosopher’s stone is guarded by a three-headed dog named… um… Fluffy!
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone book is written in a way that will compel you to pick up the next Harry Potter book in the series.
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The second book in the series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, starts with an angsty piece of the worst birthday ever experienced.
One particular character, Dobby, will make you go aww. Published in 1998, it will have you on the edge of your seats. The chamber of secrets gets a cameo in the final book of the series too.
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban introduces a werewolf, a mouse, and a dog. Ever wondered what the spell ‘Expecto Patronum’ means? The third book will answer it all.
It came out in 1999, and believe me, from one Potterhead to another future Potterhead; you might or might not binge-read the third Harry Potter book (Keep my secret y’all, I binge-read the entire Harry Potter series, as humanly as it was possible).
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire came out in 2000 and is the only Harry Potter book to win a Hugo Award. With this book, the size of the Harry Potter books suddenly increases. You will find new developments in this book, the most important being the rise of Lord Voldemort, again.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire will also give you an insight into why Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry might be the best wizarding school to study in.
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The former book ends with the beginning of the most significant plot twist in the entire series. And, now the fifth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, tackles dark times and many questions you might have had till now.
All action lovers! This 2003 publication will quench your thirst for it for the time being. The fifth book brings together many emotions and has a new character who might be the most hated fictional character ever.
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Published in 2005, the sixth book in the Harry Potter franchise revolves around a ‘book’ itself. Okay, I promised no spoilers! An old textbook is all it takes for a mystery to unfold! I love reading little notes scribbled in old books and…
Well, I couldn’t stop myself from mentioning one thing – the sixth book includes mind-twisting plots based on the most intriguing character in the Harry Potter books.
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The seventh and final book in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows series was released in 2007. This is the heaviest, longest, and most mind-rattling book in the series. My heart starts beating just a little faster, even when writing about this book.
The final book answers all questions in the former six books. It will leave you dazed with the twists and turns and the action-packed scenes with The Dark Lord, Lord Voldemort.
Harry Potter and The Cursed Child Parts I & II
Don’t get confused! The play itself is based on a story written by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne. Both the parts of the play script were published in 2016 as one single book, titled as above.
The Cursed Child story continues where the ‘nineteen years after’ Deathly Hallows epilogue left, essentially a sequel. It revolves around the rendezvous of Harry’s son Albus and Malfoy’s son Scorpio in the magical world.
This is the book that makes ‘how many Harry Potter books are there?’ an important question. The Cursed Child has a lot of time skips in the plotline, and the book needs a lot of concentration to understand the events happening in it.
Not recommended for binge-reading. To know why read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Is it Worth All The Hype?
Companion Books or The Hogwarts Library Collection
The following three books are mentioned several times in the Harry Potter Series. These books, curated by J.K. Rowling, are considered the fundamentals of Wizardry Education. J.K. Rowling wrote and released them for charities.
You can read the textbooks that your favourite characters in the Wizarding World must have read! How cool is that?
1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
This fantastic beasts book is the textbook used in the Harry Potter books and introduces the magical creatures of the Wizarding World. In the Wizarding World, the fantastic beasts’ book is written by Newt Scamander. Do not confuse this with the fantastic beasts’ screenplay.
2. Quidditch Through the Ages
Kennilworthy Whisp, a Quidditch writer, has written this Quidditch guide. Hermione’s gift to Harry Potter can be enjoyed by you too.
But beware! Don’t let anyone see you flying around on a broom. You don’t want to face the wrath of Severus Snape.
3. The Tales of Beedle The Bard
The deathly hallows book in the Harry Potter series revolves around one of the tales in this book. As the name suggests, this book is a collection of short stories, the wizarding equivalent of bedtime stories. You can finally read the fairy tales of the wizarding world and be a part of it.
This book was left for Hermione, in Dumbledore’s will. Harry Potter gains all the objects mentioned in the last tale – the invisibility cloak, elder wand, and resurrection stone in the deathly hallows.
Fantastic Beasts: The Original Screenplays
J.K. Rowling debuted as a screenwriter with the first book in this series of five. However, only two books have been published for now. The fantastic beasts series revolves around the adventures of Newt Scamander, a Magizoologist.
It is full of magical creatures, some charming and some appalling. A few of the events in this series have also been referenced in the Harry Potter books.
1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Did you know that there’s another term for muggles? In America, non-magic people are known as ‘No-Maj’. Newt Scamander was also baffled, at first. Somehow, his creatures are set loose all over New York City, and what entails is mayhem full of adventure.
2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Newt Scamander and Albus Dumbledore come together to defeat the dark wizard, but Dumbledore holds secrets that are questioned in the ending. The references to the harry potter books will delight you as your heart skips a beat.
E-books: Pottermore Presents
1. Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide
It contains fun facts and trivial info on Hogwarts, The Sorting Hat, and Platform 9 & 3/4.
2. Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists
This short stories book has information on the not-so-loved characters from the Harry Potter books.
3. Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship, and Dangerous Hobbies
This book is a guide to the teachers of Hogwarts. Not all the teachers are included, but those that are, have been loved by all.
I have mentioned all the official books that are either a part of the Harry Potter Universe or surround it.
Hoping that the titular question – how many Harry Potter books are there, is finally answered to you, please do leave comments on why you were looking for the answer, did I miss something; are you a Potterhead or a to-be-one; and anything that you would like to share with us.
There are many Harry Potter books that are not official but loved by the Potterhead community nonetheless. You can express your desire to want an exclusive list of those fun books in the comment section below.
So, the next time someone asks you, ‘how many Harry Potter books are there?’ You tell them that there are seven Harry Potter books, three complimentary books, one play script, two screenplays, and three short e-books.
Or better yet, send them a link to this read. Who knows, they might be just checking your general knowledge through the question?
If so, you need to recruit them to the Harry Potter fan club!
Last Updated on by Laveleena Sharma