Love Eaters of the Dead? Readers share 100 books like Eaters of the Dead...

By Michael Crichton,

Here are 100 books that Eaters of the Dead fans have personally recommended if you like Eaters of the Dead. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Neverwhere

Sophie Haeder Author Of Dohva - The Land Within: A Tale of Elemental Sorcery and Ancient Mysteries

From my list on fantasy that keeps you wondering what comes next.

Why am I passionate about this?

Fantasy, mystery, magic, and otherworldly realmsā€”these have fascinated me since childhood. Growing up in Landshut, a town straight out of a fairytale, with misty hills and an ancient castle, Iā€™ve always felt surrounded by magic. It makes you wonder what secrets lie in the woods or castle grounds. I crave fast-paced, suspenseful, fantastical books with a dash of romance and just enough weirdness to keep things exciting. If youā€™re like me and love stories that keep you guessing, check out my list of the best fantasy books that do just that. Plus, my debut Epic Fantasy novel is coming out this year, and it fits right into that category!

Sophie's book list on fantasy that keeps you wondering what comes next

Sophie Haeder Why did Sophie love this book?

This book follows Richard Mayhew, who is pulled into the hidden world of "London Below" after helping a mysterious girl named Door. In this strange, dangerous realm, filled with magical creatures and dark forces, Richard embarks on a journey to return to his normal life. 

I get bored easily, and many times when you read four chapters and there is still basically nothing going on, I stop and never open it again. But this book never came up short. With twists at every turn, the story keeps you guessing, never revealing what comes next. I loved it! And it is wonderfully weird as well.

By Neil Gaiman,

Why should I read it?

8 authors picked Neverwhere as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE EXTRAORDINARY FIRST NOVEL BY THE MASTER OF STORYTELLING

'Prose that dances and dazzles . . . Gaiman describes the indescribable' SUSANNA CLARKE

'It's virtually impossible to read more than ten words by Neil Gaiman and not wish he would tell you the rest of the story' OBSERVER

'Much too clever to be caught in the net of a single interpretation' PHILIP PULLMAN

ACCLAIMED BBC RADIO 4 DRAMATISATION WITH ALL-STAR CAST INCLUDING JAMES MCAVOY, NATALIE DORMER, DAVID HAREWOOD, SOPHIE OKONEDO AND BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH

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'I love doors. Anything that leads to possibilities' NEIL GAIMAN

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Under the streets of Londonā€¦


Book cover of The Last Wild Men of Borneo: A True Story of Death and Treasure

Golda Mowe Author Of Iban Journey

From my list on to experience life-changing adventures.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been fascinated with travel and adventure stories since I read The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. I finished a whole Walter Scott book; with a dictionary balanced on one knee because Jeanie Deans decides to walk from Edinburgh to London. Romance? Bah! Humbug! Iā€™d rather journey into The Heart of Darkness, follow the hobbits to Mount Doom, or ride a sandworm with Paul Atreides. Show me a lone traveler thrown into the middle of an unfamiliar, confusing culture and you have my full attention. Naturally, when I started typing out my first manuscript, it just had to be a fantasy adventure about an Iban headhunter.

Golda's book list on to experience life-changing adventures

Golda Mowe Why did Golda love this book?

What must we treasure? That is the question that came to mind when I was reading this book. Is a vanishing lifestyle or a piece of indigenous art worth risking your life and reputation for? Two men ā€“ Bruno Manser and Michael Palmieri ā€“ dodged the draft then went on to live dangerously. These real-life Robinson Crusoe and Indiana Jones eventually made their way into the jungle of Borneo, where they tried to save for posterity what they believed was important to the history of human culture. Hoffman presents their stories in a riveting style that is perfect for adventure lovers.

By Carl Hoffman,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Last Wild Men of Borneo as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A 2019 EDGAR AWARDS NOMINEE (BEST FACT CRIME) ā€¢ A BANFF MOUNTAIN BOOK AWARDS FINALIST

Two modern adventurers sought a treasure possessed by the legendary ā€œWild Men of Borneo.ā€ One found riches. The other vanished forever into an endless jungle. Had he shed civilizationā€”or lost his mind? Global headlines suspected murder. Lured by these mysteries, New York Times bestselling author Carl Hoffman journeyed to find the truth, discovering that nothing is as it seems in the worldā€™s last Eden, where the lines between sinner and saint blur into one.

In 1984, Swiss traveler Bruno Manser joined an expedition to theā€¦


Book cover of War of the Gods

Rowdy Geirsson Author Of The Scandinavian Aggressors

From my list on re-imaginings of ancient Scandinavian stories.

Why am I passionate about this?

Mostly, Iā€™m a writer of (hopefully) humorous books and articles largely focused on Vikings and Norse mythology, but I also write non-fiction articles about Scandinavian history, art, and culture. Iā€™ve always been fascinated with the Viking Age, and read as much fiction and non-fiction on the subject as I am able. Iā€™ve discovered many great novels dealing with the ā€œwhole Northern thingā€ (W.H. Audenā€™s term for Tolkienā€™s fascination) ranging from realistic historic fiction to highly original urban fantasy that utilizes the standard Norse tropes, but truly imaginative retellings that remain faithfully grounded in the plot points of the ancient stories are rarer. These are my favorites. 

Rowdy's book list on re-imaginings of ancient Scandinavian stories

Rowdy Geirsson Why did Rowdy love this book?

Poul Anderson is best known for his science fiction, but he was also one of the great fantasy and historical fiction writers of the 20th century, as well as a founding member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. His fantasy and historical fiction novels tended to focus on the Viking Age and/or Norse myths, and War of the Gods is my favorite of these. It is a rousing novelization of Book 1 from Saxo Grammaticusā€™ Gesta Danorum, one of our foremost sources of Norse mythology. War of the Gods takes Saxoā€™s brief story, uniquely positions it against the background of the mythological war between the Aesir and Vanir, and expands the tale from its short foundation to be an action-packed novel that remains faithful to its original inspiration. 

By Poul Anderson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked War of the Gods as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

King Hadding was raised by giants far from his rightful throne, as his father, was slain shortly after Hadding's birth. The time comes when Hadding feels he must reclaim his legitimate place. He must endure ferocious battles, the charms of voluptuous Valkieries and finally a war of the gods.


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Book cover of The Yamanaka Factors

The Yamanaka Factors by Jed Henson,

Fall 2028. Mickey Cooper, an elderly homeless man, receives an incredible proposition from a rogue pharmaceutical company: ā€œBe our secret guinea pig for our new drug, and weā€™ll pay you life-changing money, which youā€™ll be able to enjoy because if (cough) when the treatment works, two months from now yourā€¦

Book cover of The Hurricane Party

Rowdy Geirsson Author Of The Scandinavian Aggressors

From my list on re-imaginings of ancient Scandinavian stories.

Why am I passionate about this?

Mostly, Iā€™m a writer of (hopefully) humorous books and articles largely focused on Vikings and Norse mythology, but I also write non-fiction articles about Scandinavian history, art, and culture. Iā€™ve always been fascinated with the Viking Age, and read as much fiction and non-fiction on the subject as I am able. Iā€™ve discovered many great novels dealing with the ā€œwhole Northern thingā€ (W.H. Audenā€™s term for Tolkienā€™s fascination) ranging from realistic historic fiction to highly original urban fantasy that utilizes the standard Norse tropes, but truly imaginative retellings that remain faithfully grounded in the plot points of the ancient stories are rarer. These are my favorites. 

Rowdy's book list on re-imaginings of ancient Scandinavian stories

Rowdy Geirsson Why did Rowdy love this book?

Klas Ɩstergren is one of Swedenā€™s foremost literary novelists and The Hurricane Party was his contribution to Canongateā€™s early 21st-century Myth Series (although it was apparently subsequently removed from it). The Hurricane Party is the most imaginative retelling of Norse mythology that Iā€™ve read. It focuses on events that precede Ragnarƶk and takes place in a futuristic, climate-ravaged, dystopian Stockholm. The plot centers around the Flyting of Loki, a pivotal scene from The Poetic Edda in which Loki turns against the gods and kills one of their servants. Ɩstergrenā€™s novel follows the journey of the father (his own invented character) of this servant as he searches for answers to his sonā€™s death against this unique backdrop. The setting and premise are among the most original Iā€™ve ever encountered. 

By Klas Ostergren,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Hurricane Party as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Hanck Orn's son is dead. When they come to the door they tell him it was a heart attack, but he knows they are lying.

So he travels to the outermost reaches of the land to find out what really happened. When he lands on the island he is met by a young woman, hair streaked with blood, raving like a lunatic. She is one of the sisters, who tell him the story of how his son died in the great hall of the Clan, the Norse gods, who were holding a party. But the festivities soon got out ofā€¦


Book cover of Styrbiorn the Strong

Rowdy Geirsson Author Of The Scandinavian Aggressors

From my list on re-imaginings of ancient Scandinavian stories.

Why am I passionate about this?

Mostly, Iā€™m a writer of (hopefully) humorous books and articles largely focused on Vikings and Norse mythology, but I also write non-fiction articles about Scandinavian history, art, and culture. Iā€™ve always been fascinated with the Viking Age, and read as much fiction and non-fiction on the subject as I am able. Iā€™ve discovered many great novels dealing with the ā€œwhole Northern thingā€ (W.H. Audenā€™s term for Tolkienā€™s fascination) ranging from realistic historic fiction to highly original urban fantasy that utilizes the standard Norse tropes, but truly imaginative retellings that remain faithfully grounded in the plot points of the ancient stories are rarer. These are my favorites. 

Rowdy's book list on re-imaginings of ancient Scandinavian stories

Rowdy Geirsson Why did Rowdy love this book?

E.R. Eddison was an early fantasy novelist best known for The Worm Ouroboros, but like Poul Anderson, he also took a serious interest in bringing the ancient stories of the North into the modern age. Styrbiorn the Strong was his effort to capture the adventure of the old sagas by recreating a presumably lost full-length saga about the titular character. With Styrbiorn the Strong, Eddison built a convincing and original saga-inspired story from the fragments that exist about him (remaining references to Styrbiorn exist in Flatey Book, Eyrbyggja Saga, and the Heimskringla). The book was originally published in 1926 and features the sort of verbose and eloquent language typical of novels of that era, which itself is very un-saga-like, but is a joy to read. 

By E.R. Eddison,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Styrbiorn the Strong as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

E. R. Eddison's classic saga novel now in paperback-includes for the first time Eddison's remarkable letter of introduction and his unabridged closing note

Styrbiorn the Strong tells the grand tale of Styrbiorn Olafsson, heir to the Swedish throne and known both for his impressive size and strength and his unruly, quarrelsome nature. Denied his birthright and exiled from Sweden, Styrbiorn becomes the leader of the Jomsvikings and sets out to reclaim the Swedish throne in the epic Battle of Fyrisvellir. A rediscovered classic, Styrbiorn the Strong is a tale reminiscent of the Old Norse sagas, a historical novel from oneā€¦


Book cover of Nutcase

Rowdy Geirsson Author Of The Scandinavian Aggressors

From my list on re-imaginings of ancient Scandinavian stories.

Why am I passionate about this?

Mostly, Iā€™m a writer of (hopefully) humorous books and articles largely focused on Vikings and Norse mythology, but I also write non-fiction articles about Scandinavian history, art, and culture. Iā€™ve always been fascinated with the Viking Age, and read as much fiction and non-fiction on the subject as I am able. Iā€™ve discovered many great novels dealing with the ā€œwhole Northern thingā€ (W.H. Audenā€™s term for Tolkienā€™s fascination) ranging from realistic historic fiction to highly original urban fantasy that utilizes the standard Norse tropes, but truly imaginative retellings that remain faithfully grounded in the plot points of the ancient stories are rarer. These are my favorites. 

Rowdy's book list on re-imaginings of ancient Scandinavian stories

Rowdy Geirsson Why did Rowdy love this book?

Tony Williams is a writer living in the United Kingdom and his novel, Nutcase, is the most recent one on my list. Nutcase is a faithful retelling of The Saga of Grettir the Strong, only set in a slum in modern-day northern England. The transposition of a story originating in medieval Iceland to this present-day context makes it one of the most bizarre and unique novels Iā€™ve ever read (in a good way). The story stays true to the sagaā€™s plot and characters while bringing them to their new context in a very believable manner. The book is a wild ride and full of all sorts of English slang and colloquialisms which I enjoyed immensely in their own right. 

By Tony Williams,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Nutcase as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Read Regional 2019 - 'Discover brilliant Northern writers'

Aidan Wilson's misfortune is to be hard as nails

In this darkly hilarious and seriously horrifying book Williams tells the story of Aidan, a vigilante and young offender from one of Sheffield's roughest estates.

At breakneck speed, we see Aidan's world unravel as he goes from hero to outlaw, fighting against all-comers and the circumstances he can't escape. But is he a victim or architect of his own demise?

A brutal and breathtaking account of living with violence in the English city.

There are lots of crime novels, but Nutcase is somethingā€¦


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Book cover of Trans-Mongolian Express

Trans-Mongolian Express by David L. Robbins,

In the harrowing aftermath of Chornobyl's meltdown in 1986, the fate of Eastern Europe hangs by a thread.

From Beijing, American radiation scientist Lara, once a thorn in the Russian mob's side, is drawn back into the shadows of the Soviet Union on the Trans-Mongolian Express. She isn't alone. Anton,ā€¦

Book cover of Lord Jim

Golda Mowe Author Of Iban Journey

From my list on to experience life-changing adventures.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been fascinated with travel and adventure stories since I read The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. I finished a whole Walter Scott book; with a dictionary balanced on one knee because Jeanie Deans decides to walk from Edinburgh to London. Romance? Bah! Humbug! Iā€™d rather journey into The Heart of Darkness, follow the hobbits to Mount Doom, or ride a sandworm with Paul Atreides. Show me a lone traveler thrown into the middle of an unfamiliar, confusing culture and you have my full attention. Naturally, when I started typing out my first manuscript, it just had to be a fantasy adventure about an Iban headhunter.

Golda's book list on to experience life-changing adventures

Golda Mowe Why did Golda love this book?

This is one of those books that I had to put down a couple of times previously because the protagonistā€™s flaw hit too close to home. Jim is so ashamed of his past cowardice that each time his identity is found out, he will travel farther away from the spreading Western colonies. A Western marauder eventually invades the Malay and Bugis community where he lives, and Jim has to bear the consequence of speaking up for the man in good faith. After so many years, this book is still one of my top favorites because Jim finally stops running and faces his fear. He ultimately becomes the hero that he has always wanted to be.

By Joseph Conrad,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Lord Jim as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'To the white men in the waterside business and to the captain of ships he was just Jim - nothing more. He had, of course, another name, but he was anxious that it should not be pronounced.'

Lord Jim tells the story of a young, idealistic Englishman - 'as unflinching as a hero in a book' - who is disgraced by a single act of cowardice while serving as an officer on the Patna, a merchant-ship sailing from an Eastern port. His life is blighted: an isolated scandal assumes horrifying proportions. An older man, Marlow, befriends Jim, and helps toā€¦


Book cover of I Was a Potato Oligarch: Travels and Travails in the New Russia

Golda Mowe Author Of Iban Journey

From my list on to experience life-changing adventures.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been fascinated with travel and adventure stories since I read The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. I finished a whole Walter Scott book; with a dictionary balanced on one knee because Jeanie Deans decides to walk from Edinburgh to London. Romance? Bah! Humbug! Iā€™d rather journey into The Heart of Darkness, follow the hobbits to Mount Doom, or ride a sandworm with Paul Atreides. Show me a lone traveler thrown into the middle of an unfamiliar, confusing culture and you have my full attention. Naturally, when I started typing out my first manuscript, it just had to be a fantasy adventure about an Iban headhunter.

Golda's book list on to experience life-changing adventures

Golda Mowe Why did Golda love this book?

John Mole tells his stories the same way an Iban man would when he returns from a particularly harrowing work travel. I personally think that the memoir is a tragedy disguised as a comedy because some parts of his description of life in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union made my stomach cramp with emotion. At the same time, they also made me laugh because his imageries are so comical. His first-world naivetƩ either gets him scammed or rescued, but his survival instincts always kick in when it matters. So, if you are interested in a modern Wild-Wild-West adventure, this is the book for you.

By John Mole,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Was a Potato Oligarch as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In a charming saga of sun, sea, sand - and cement - John Mole tells of the back-breaking but joyous labours of fixing up his own Arcadia and introduces a warm, generous and garrulous cast of characters who helped (and occasionally hindered) his progress.


Book cover of The Hammer and the Cross

Peter Gibbons Author Of Warrior and Protector

From my list on historical fiction or fantasy about the Viking Age.

Why am I passionate about this?

I developed a passion for history as a child in Warrington, Cheshire. I would lose myself in tales of Achilles, Alexander, King Arthur, and King Alfred the Great. My love of the Viking Age became nurtured through visits to Viking exhibitions like the Yorvik centre in York, and Dublinia in Dublin. The catalyst for my first book, Viking Blood and Blade, was a trip to the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, Denmark. That museum holds a full-size Viking warship, which is truly breathtaking. I have published seven historical fiction novels set in the Viking Age, and I hope you enjoy the books on this list as much as I haveā€¦

Peter's book list on historical fiction or fantasy about the Viking Age

Peter Gibbons Why did Peter love this book?

I read this book whilst I was a teenager, and although it is an alternative history book, the depiction of Viking Age Britain, and the Vikings themselves had me hooked.

The battles and characters hook you in, and there is just enough of a fantasy element thrown in to make this novel almost perfect.

By Harry Harrison,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Hammer and the Cross as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In an alternate history set in A.D. 865, Shef, son of a Norse raider and an English lady, tries to carve out a kingdom of his own in England, while Christian kings and Viking worshippers of Asgard battle for the country's dominion.


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Book cover of Shortcake

Shortcake by Christopher Gorham Calvin,

Enter a captivating world where science fiction and thrilling suspense converge. After plummeting from the roof of Helix Unbound, Amanda awakens to a life devoid of memories. Desperately longing to fit in, yet sensing she harbors an extraordinary secret beneath her seemingly ordinary facade, she explores the unfamiliar world inā€¦

Book cover of The Northmen's Fury: A History of the Viking World

Max Adams Author Of Aelfred's Britain: War and Peace in the Viking Age

From my list on the viking period.

Why am I passionate about this?

I study and write about the Early Medieval period, and in a series of books about its most important characters, its archaeology and landscapes, I've tried to share my lifelong passion for this most obscure and tantalizing period of our history ā€“ what we still call the Dark Ages. From the two most shadowy centuries after Rome's fall (The First Kingdom) to Northumbrian King Oswald (The King in the North), who brought Christianity into pagan Anglo-Saxon England, and a walking, riding, sailing tour of Britain's Dark Age lands and seas (In the Land of Giants), I see a continuity of rich cultures, vibrant politics and regional characters that help us to understand how and why we are like we are.

Max's book list on the viking period

Max Adams Why did Max love this book?

Every subject needs a really sound, comprehensive introduction ā€“ and Parker's book is just that: a big, chunky history of the Vikings in all their guises, as traders, raiders, explorers, and entrepreneurs.  It's very well illustrated with photos and maps, lucidly written, and with a passion for the subject that is infectious. If you're looking for just one book to see you through the Vikings, make it this one.

By Philip Parker,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Northmen's Fury as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Northmen's Fury tells the Viking story, from the first pinprick raids of the eighth century to the great armies that left their Scandinavian homelands to conquer larger parts of France, Britain and Ireland. It recounts the epic voyages that took them across the Atlantic to the icy fjords of Greenland and to North America over four centuries before Columbus and east to the great rivers of Russia and the riches of the Byzantine empire.

One summer's day in 793, death arrived from the sea. The raiders who sacked the island monastery of Lindisfarne were the first Vikings, sea-borne attackersā€¦


Book cover of Neverwhere
Book cover of The Last Wild Men of Borneo: A True Story of Death and Treasure
Book cover of War of the Gods

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