10 books like The Eyre Affair

By Jasper Fforde,

Here are 10 books that authors have personally recommended if you like The Eyre Affair. Shepherd is a community of 7,000+ authors sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Good Omens

By Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman,

Book cover of Good Omens

Good Omens is laugh-out-loud funny from cover to cover. It is absurdist humor at its finest. It’s so endearing, in fact, that it completely changed my writing style, and hence my career. While I will continue my series, so deeply inspired and tickled was I by this apocalyptic comedy that I’ve gone a bit Patrick Rothfuss on you and have written two absurdist fantasy comedies of my own (publish very, very pending) in the interim. This tale of the war between heaven and hell will make you smile from the moment you open it until the moment you close it. 

Good Omens

By Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman,

Why should I read it?

14 authors picked Good Omens as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE BOOK BEHIND THE AMAZON PRIME/BBC SERIES STARRING DAVID TENNANT, MICHAEL SHEEN, JON HAMM AND BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH

'Ridiculously inventive and gloriously funny' Guardian

What if, for once, the predictions are right, and the Apocalypse really is due to arrive next Saturday, just after tea?

It's a predicament that Aziraphale, a somewhat fussy angel, and Crowley, a fast-living demon, now find themselves in. They've been living amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and, truth be told, have grown rather fond of the lifestyle and, in all honesty, are not actually looking forward to the coming Apocalypse.

And then there's the small…


The Book of Jhereg

By Steven Brust,

Book cover of The Book of Jhereg

In Dragaera, the fortunes of the seventeen Great Houses are determined by the Cycle, which elevates royalty, merchants, artisans, wizards, the mob, and even peasants as it turns.

The Cycle takes thousands of years to turn… but Dragaerans live thousands of years. Easterners, like Vlad Taltos, are lucky to see a hundred, and they can’t be members of the Great Houses. Except the House of the Jhereg, which sells titles.

They’re the mob; and Vlad, Baronet of Taltos, is an assassin. JHEREG and its many sequels are constantly exploring the social dynamics underlying this situation; as an Easterner with a bought title, Vlad doesn’t fit in with either Easterners or Dragaeran nobles, and choosing sides can mean destroying relationships or putting his life on the line.

The Book of Jhereg

By Steven Brust,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Book of Jhereg as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The first three fantastical adventures of assassin Vlad Taltos—now in one volume.

A welcome addition to any fantasy fan's library, The Book of Jhereg follows the antics of the wise-cracking Vlad Taltos and his dragon-like companion through their first three adventures—Jhereg, Yendi, and Teckla.

There are many ways for a young man with quick wits and a quick sword to advance in the world. Vlad Taltos chose the route of assassin. From his rookie days to his selfless feats of heroism, the dauntless Vlad will hold readers spellbound—and The Book of Jhereg will take its place among the classic compilations…


A Wrinkle in Time

By Madeleine L'Engle,

Book cover of A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time might be viewed more as sci-fi than fantasy, but to me, the two genres are inextricably linked. Wrinkle in Time is soft sci-fi, but there are definitely fantasy elements to it.

Again, the idea of parallel universes sucked me in and wouldn’t let go. I really enjoyed Meg and Calvin’s relationship, and especially liked that the popular athlete fell for the nerdy girl, completely going against stereotypes. I’m not much of one for relationship tropes; I like when things go against the grain, or pleasantly surprise you because you didn’t see it coming.

A Wrinkle in Time

By Madeleine L'Engle,

Why should I read it?

10 authors picked A Wrinkle in Time as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Puffin Classics: the definitive collection of timeless stories, for every child.

We can't take any credit for our talents. It's how we use them that counts.

When Charles and Meg Murry go searching through a 'wrinkle in time' for their lost father, they find themselves on an evil planet where all life is enslaved by a huge pulsating brain known as 'It'.

Meg, Charles and their friend Calvin embark on a cosmic journey helped by the funny and mysterious trio of guardian angels, Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which. Together they must find the weapon that will defeat It.…


The Quiche of Death

By M. C. Beaton,

Book cover of The Quiche of Death

It takes guts to write a protagonist who’s hard to like. Agatha Raisin, a tough businesswoman who retires to the tiny village of Carsley, is so beautifully flawed she’s impossible to ignore. She’s somewhat of a bully, prone to conniving, and deeply competitive, which is why she buys her quiche at a shop and enters it as her own creation. Of course, someone drops dead after eating it. This crusty woman of a certain age just bulldozes her way through the investigation and her flaws are so funny and refreshing that you wind up rooting for her. She’s a breath of fresh air in the cozy mystery world.

The Quiche of Death

By M. C. Beaton,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Quiche of Death as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Every new Agatha Raisin escapade is a total joy' ASHLEY JENSEN

'No wonder she's been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime' MAIL ON SUNDAY

'A Beaton novel is like The Archers on speed' DAILY MAIL

The first Agatha Raisin mystery from bestselling author M. C. Beaton

__________________________

Revenge is a dish best served warm...

High-flying public relations supremo Agatha Raisin has decided to take early retirement. She's off to make a new life in a picture-perfect Cotswold village. To make friends, she enters the local quiche-making competition - and to make quite sure of first prize she secretly pays a visit…


Soulless

By Gail Carriger,

Book cover of Soulless

Alexia is *chef’s kiss* when I think of witty women who figure it out for everyone else. She’s clever and funny. She knows how to turn a polite phrase into an insult that sparks the action she wants the insulted to take. And she knows how to get a job well done. Though there are often times she doubts being desirable or wanted, she’s confident in her abilities and that her expectations are worth being met. I love how she always seems to put herself in the middle of trouble, but not without power.

Soulless

By Gail Carriger,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Alexia Tarabotti is labouring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire - and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.
With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high…


Magic Kingdom for Sale

By Terry Brooks,

Book cover of Magic Kingdom for Sale

I’d already read the first few Shannara books when I stumbled across this book in the library. Again, the idea of a parallel world—where you can just buy an entire magical kingdom—was too good for me to pass up.

This was the first “quirky” fantasy I’d ever read. Most of them had comical moments, but still took their story seriously. This book—and series—is not what I would call a laugh-fest, but it’s definitely much lighter in tone than most fantasy novels, and showed me that you can inject a lot of humor and absurdity into a fantasy book—something I employ in my own books.

Magic Kingdom for Sale

By Terry Brooks,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked Magic Kingdom for Sale as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Here in his first non-Shannara novel, Terry Brooks has written a gripping story of mystery, magic, and adventure—sure to delight fantasy readers everywhere.

Landover was a genuine magic kingdom, with fairy folk and wizardry, just as the advertisement has promised. But after he purchased it, Ben Holiday learned that there were a few details the ad had failed to mention.

The kingdom was in ruin. The Barons refused to recognize a king, and the peasants were without hope. A dragon was laying waste the countryside, while an evil witch plotted to destroy everything.

Ben's only followers were the incompetent Court…


Libriomancer

By Jim C. Hines,

Book cover of Libriomancer

Libriomancer is a very meta urban fantasy where the power of fiction is real and accessible. It delves deeply into the powers of other fictional worlds within the framework of the one created for this story. With more than a little humor and a lot of fun, the literary fantasy and science fiction pop culture becomes active tools rather than cute easter eggs. I felt heart-warmed by the inventive and interesting use of combining old books I love to help form a new book I love. 

Libriomancer

By Jim C. Hines,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Isaac Vainio is a Libriomancer, a member of a secret society founded five centuries ago by Johannes Gutenberg. As such, he is gifted with the magical ability to reach into books and draw forth objects.

But when Gutenberg vanishes without a trace, Isaac finds himself pitted against everything from vampires to a sinister, nameless foe who is bent on revealing magic to the world at large... and at any cost.


Life in the North

By Tao Wong,

Book cover of Life in the North

The apocalypse has come and it is in the form of an alien takeover that looks like a video-game system.  Less tongue and cheek and more grim and gritty we follow John as he tries to survive in the newly re-made world. This book starts one of my favorite series in the LitRPG genre and holds a special place in my heart as one of the series that inspires me to write in that sub-genre. I consider it one of the best places to start if you are interested in the gaming/science-fantasy mix that is the genre.

Life in the North

By Tao Wong,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

What happens when the apocalypse arrives, not via nuclear weapons or a comet but as Levels and monsters? What if you were camping in the Yukon when the world ended?

All John wanted to do was get away from his life in Kluane National Park for a weekend. Hike, camp and chill. Instead, the world comes to an end in a series of blue boxes. Animals start evolving, monsters start spawning and he has a character sheet and physics defying skills. Now, he has to survive the apocalypse, get back to civilisation and not lose his mind.

The System has…


Redshirts

By John Scalzi,

Book cover of Redshirts

Maybe more military sci-fi than space opera, this is probably the most surprising book on this list. It’s often sold as satire, or the quintessential humorous commentary on the Star Trek franchise, but Scalzi’s Redshirts actually goes beyond fourth-wall-breaking meta into the sublime. It’s not a particularly new take on the question of predestination versus free will, but it’s certainly an unexpected and emotional one, and I’ve always cared a lot about the question of “What’s Out There” and “Why Do We Suffer,” so this book resonated with me.

Redshirts

By John Scalzi,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

'I can honestly say I can't think of another book that ever made me laugh this much. Ever' Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the Wind

Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It's a prestige posting, and Andrew is even more delighted when he's assigned to the ship's Xenobiology laboratory. Life couldn't be better ... although there are a few strange things going on:

(1) every Away Mission involves a lethal confrontation with alien forces

(2) the ship's…


Bushido Online

By Nikita Thorn,

Book cover of Bushido Online: The Battle Begins

Another Litrpg, Seth enters a Virtual Reality game set in a fantasy feudal Japan as the technology allows him to function better while recovering from an injury taken during a martial arts tournament. For me, the setting got me worked up. I spent a decade of my gaming life playing Legend of the Five Rings, a similarly feudal Japan-inspired game world. Clans, factions, betrayals, and samurai. It brought me back to my youth in a way that few pieces of media do. 

Bushido Online

By Nikita Thorn,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

How Often Do You Get a Second Chance in Life?
Seth Kinnaman’s dream has always been to become the best fighter the world has ever seen. After spending his entire life training, he’s finally ready to test his skills in the biggest tournament on Earth where hundreds of the fiercest competitors vie for the supreme title.

In the semi-finals, Seth is getting the upper hand when his opponent uses an illegal blow to take him out. Upon waking up from a coma, Seth finds out he’s lost his sight. He’s become blind and he’s completely devastated. All his dreams are…


5 book lists we think you will like!

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