Okay, so I actually got this book only because I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, and my mom thought I would like a book written by the same author. And I did. But honestly, if you're only looking for a book that's a lot like the Harry Potter books, then this book may not be for you. Because while the story is great and the characters are interesting, it's also got a much different style and mood than HP.
You see, this book is much more based in the world of royalty and society/economics rather than a bunch of magical creatures and places. In fact, the titular Ickabog is the only fantasy-ish thing about this book in my opinion, and we don't even see the real thing until we're over halfway through the book. And most of the time, the story is about real-world scenarios rather than fantasy, such as with Ma Grunter's Orphanage, the various cities and their specialties, and the many, many different political positions in King Fred's palace.
So if you're looking for an action-packed, magical wonderland adventure, then this book way out of your zone. But if you want to read a genuinely well-told story about greed and love and family and lots of political discussion (taxes, anyone?) then you're gonna love this book.
Oh, and it's got pictures drawn by children in it, too, so that's a bonus.