what to read.me

Best Adventure Books

Thrilling adventure books that take you on journeys across uncharted lands, treacherous seas, and dangerous quests. These stories are packed with action, courage, and the irresistible pull of the unknown.

34 books in this collection

Six of Crows cover

Six of Crows

by Leigh Bardugo

★★★★ 4.5 (1,171,416)

A crew of deadly outcasts attempts an impossible heist in a dark fantasy world. Gripping and fast-paced.

adventuremagicfriendship
Dune cover

Dune

by Frank Herbert

★★★★ 4.3 (1,649,860)

A dense, beautifully crafted desert planet. This sci-fi masterpiece offers a slow burn filled with intense political tension.

politicsphilosophyadventure
The Priory of the Orange Tree cover

The Priory of the Orange Tree

by Samantha Shannon

★★★★ 4.2 (285,462)

A sweeping epic fantasy with dragons and queens. A slow, immersive burn featuring gripping, world-ending stakes.

magicpoliticsadventure
The Name of the Wind cover

The Name of the Wind

by Patrick Rothfuss

★★★★★ 4.5 (1,094,145)

A legendary wizard recounts his tragic life. A beautifully poetic, slow-paced fantasy with gripping, dark undertones.

magiccoming-of-ageadventure
The Unhoneymooners cover

The Unhoneymooners

by Christina Lauren

★★★★ 3.9 (1,143,779)

Two sworn enemies must pretend to be newlyweds to enjoy a free Hawaiian vacation. Breezy, hilarious, and romantic.

romancehumoradventure
Ready Player One cover

Ready Player One

by Ernest Cline

★★★★ 4.2 (1,314,344)

A high-stakes treasure hunt inside a sprawling virtual reality universe. A fast, fun, and incredibly addictive page-turner.

adventuredystopiasurvival
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries cover

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

by Heather Fawcett

★★★★ 4.0 (220,276)

A grumpy 1900s scholar studies faeries in a snowy village. A cozy, slow-burn historical fantasy with witty banter.

magicromanceadventure
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries cover

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

by Heather Fawcett

★★★★ 4.0 (220,276)

A grumpy scholar studies dangerous faeries alongside her impossibly charming rival. Witty banter meets captivating magical world-building.

magicromanceadventure
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries cover

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

by Heather Fawcett

★★★★ 4.0 (220,276)

A grumpy scholar studies winter faeries in a snowy village. Witty banter meets a slow, immersive fairy-tale.

magicromanceadventure
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries cover

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

by Heather Fawcett

★★★★ 4.0 (220,276)

A grumpy scholar studies faeries in a snowy village. A cozy, enchanting fantasy with a slow, delightful romance.

magicromanceadventure
The Starless Sea cover

The Starless Sea

by Erin Morgenstern

★★★★ 3.8 (237,099)

A student discovers a subterranean world of magical stories. A deeply immersive, dreamlike journey meant to be savored.

magicmysteryadventure
Stardust cover

Stardust

by Neil Gaiman

★★★★ 4.1 (483,766)

A young Victorian man crosses into a magical realm to catch a falling star. A cozy, whimsical, slow-burn adventure.

magicadventureromance
The Giver of Stars cover

The Giver of Stars

by Jojo Moyes

★★★★ 4.3 (516,834)

Brave women deliver books on horseback in 1930s Kentucky. A heartwarming, immersive story of friendship and courage.

historicalfriendshipadventure
The Giver of Stars cover

The Giver of Stars

by Jojo Moyes

★★★★ 4.3 (516,834)

Depression-era women deliver books on horseback through the mountains. A heartfelt, immersive tale of friendship and courage.

historicalfriendshipadventure
Tress of the Emerald Sea cover

Tress of the Emerald Sea

by Brandon Sanderson

★★★★ 4.3 (301,137)

A normal girl sails across oceans of deadly spores to save her prince. Witty, whimsical, and fast-paced.

adventuremagiclove
Tress of the Emerald Sea cover

Tress of the Emerald Sea

by Brandon Sanderson

★★★★ 4.3 (301,137)

A girl sails across oceans of magical spores to save her love. Whimsical, funny, and highly immersive.

adventuremagiclove
Fairy Tale cover

Fairy Tale

by Stephen King

★★★★ 4.1 (345,207)

A boy discovers a portal to a ruined kingdom. A rich, slow buildup into a gripping, dark world.

adventuremagicfriendship
Fairy Tale cover

Fairy Tale

by Stephen King

★★★★ 4.1 (345,207)

A teen and his dog discover a dark magical realm. An immersive, fast-paced fantasy with deep emotional roots.

adventuremagicfriendship
Dungeon Crawler Carl cover

Dungeon Crawler Carl

by Matt Dinniman

★★★★ 4.5 (307,953)

A man and his sassy talking cat survive a televised galactic dungeon. Outrageously funny and wildly addictive.

survivalhumoradventure
The Ten Thousand Doors of January cover

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

by Alix E. Harrow

★★★★ 4.0 (172,368)

A young woman discovers magical portals hidden in books. A heartfelt, beautifully written love letter to storytelling itself.

adventuremagichistorical
All Systems Red cover

All Systems Red

by Martha Wells

★★★★ 4.1 (381,056)

A socially anxious, heavily armed cyborg just wants to watch soap operas. Sarcastic, action-packed, and instantly addictive.

adventurehumorsurvival
All Systems Red cover

All Systems Red

by Martha Wells

★★★★ 4.1 (381,056)

A cynical, heavily armed cyborg hacks its governor module to watch soap operas. Fast, action-packed sci-fi.

adventurehumorsurvival
All Systems Red cover

All Systems Red

by Martha Wells

★★★★ 4.1 (381,056)

A socially anxious cyborg just wants to watch soap operas. A lightning-fast sci-fi novella with a surprisingly tender heart.

adventurehumorsurvival
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet cover

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

by Becky Chambers

★★★★ 4.2 (188,780)

A diverse alien crew builds hyperspace tunnels. A cozy, character-driven sci-fi journey that feels like a warm hug.

adventurefriendshipphilosophy
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet cover

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

by Becky Chambers

★★★★ 4.2 (188,780)

A diverse crew builds wormholes across the galaxy. A beautifully intimate, character-driven sci-fi journey that pulls you right in.

adventurefriendshipphilosophy
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue cover

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

by Mackenzi Lee

★★★★ 4.0 (146,324)

A mischievous young lord embarks on a chaotic 18th-century European tour. Hilarious, adventurous, and a total page-turner.

adventureromancehistorical
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue cover

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

by Mackenzi Lee

★★★★ 4.0 (146,324)

A bisexual British lord embarks on a chaotic 18th-century European tour. Incredibly funny, character-driven, and delightfully immersive.

adventureromancehistorical
West with Giraffes cover

West with Giraffes

by Lynda Rutledge

★★★★ 4.3 (205,085)

A young depression-era boy drives two giraffes across 1930s America. A slow, beautiful, and heartwarming historical road trip.

adventurehistoricalnature
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared cover

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

by Jonas Jonasson

★★★★ 3.8 (305,962)

A centenarian escapes his nursing home, recalling his absurd historical adventures. A slow, hilarious, and deeply charming journey.

humoradventurehistorical
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking cover

A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking

by T. Kingfisher

★★★★ 4.0 (70,019)

A teenage baker must save her city using only sourdough and cookies. Quirky, laugh-out-loud funny, and thrilling.

magicadventurecoming-of-age
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) cover

We Are Legion (We Are Bob)

by Dennis E. Taylor

★★★★ 4.3 (129,848)

A geeky guy dies and wakes up as an immortal spaceship AI. Highly entertaining, nerdy, and fast-moving.

humorphilosophyadventure
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking cover

A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking

by T. Kingfisher

★★★★ 4.0 (70,019)

A young baker uses sourdough magic to save her city. Quirky, hilarious, and wonderfully lighthearted fantasy.

magicadventurecoming-of-age
The Kaiju Preservation Society cover

The Kaiju Preservation Society

by John Scalzi

★★★★ 4.0 (72,858)

A fired delivery driver gets recruited to protect massive alternate-dimension monsters. Fast, witty, and pure sci-fi fun.

adventurehumornature
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea cover

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea

by Rebecca Thorne

★★★★ 3.7 (33,466)

An elite guard and a powerful mage elope to open a bookshop. The ultimate relaxing, cozy fantasy escape.

magicromanceadventure

Built by Dominik. I couldn't find a simple way to pick what to read next - so I've made this.

© 2026 what to read.me