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A Wizard of Earthsea
Originally published in 1968, Ursula K. Le Guin'sA Wizard of Earthsea marks the first of the six now beloved Earthsea titles. Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
Why it's similar
Both narratives feature an adolescent magic student whose school years are disrupted by terrifying, shadow-like entities that personify deep-seated dread and trauma, mirroring the Dementors and boggarts of Azkaban. Both emphasize internal emotional growth and facing one's fears over pure physical combat.
What's different
Le Guin writes in a mythic, high-fantasy tone with a solitary protagonist focus, lacking the comedic school interactions, ensemble dynamic, and detective-style plotting of Rowling.