Action And Adventure Books That Should Be Considered As A Must-read

A short list of books to add onto your action and adventure list of must-reads.
The Peasant's Daughter

How do you choose a book to read? Is it selected from the look of the cover, the title, the short summary that's usually located on the back of the book or the inside flap? Each person has their own opinions and tastes, but it's important to recognize that, similar to people, all books are completely different as well.

I believe that action and adventure books are the best types to read, because they are capable of taking you from your reality and into a completely different world. They are the books that can keep you interested with the amazing stories they have to tell.

When deciding a book you may want to read, there are many steps into picking a good match for the right person. Here is a short list of the books that I believe should be considered on your 'must read' list under the category of Action and Adventure.

1. The Inheritance Cycle

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This is an underrated tetralogy, written by Christopher Paolini from around 2002-2011. The books, in order, are called Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, and Inheritance.

This is a long series, and I have spent many years trying to finish all the books. So many times I had put it off to the side for years, then I would have to restart from the very beginning so I still had the entire storyline and information fresh in my head. Eventually on my fourth attempt, I finally finished all of them, one after the other in a reasonable amount of time. 

The briefest summary I can manage is that this is a fantasy world created in which many creatures of imagination are created. They could never get along until they finally all have the same cause to finally fight together. A corrupt king, and a young dragon rider have an inevitable fate of clashing. Will this simple farm boy turned dragon rider be able to bring peace to all of Alagasia? Some more elaborate summaries can be found among other descriptions.

I believe this to be a great series to follow through with because the story starts with just Eragon and how he has to adapt to a world that keeps pulling the rug up from under him. We learn more about this unique world just as much as he does. In a way, the more you read into these books, the more it has a ability to cast a reflection on our own realities. If there's one thing that should be taken from this read is that we will always learn something new that we didn't know. 

Also, this series is great for this genre. Even though it is on the fantasy fiction side, its packed with action scenes and the story is all about the adventure. The first book is all around Eragon, but the next 3 books involve more of the other characters views and what they go through along their own journeys.

2. The Kane Chronicles

Book World

This is a trilogy that is a fictitious story with Egyptian mythology being the core center of telling it, written by Rick Riodan. These stories are probably meant for a younger audience, possibly teens, but you will learn much about Egyptian customs, gods, and even everyday items.

This was an easy series for me to read because I love mythology. When I originally picked up the first book, I knew nothing about Egyptian mythology, but after I was done with the series, I wanted to learn more. Riodan has a great way of writing that makes you want to learn more about history. 

For this quick summary, the plot lies along the pathway of a brother and sister whose family, they quickly find out, is closely linked to the Egyptian gods and goddesses. The main goal seems to continually be saving the world that is oblivious to an apocalypse about to occur. In depth summaries are found from the author's website.

This series is extremely fun to read. You can the viewpoints of the actions the characters do and the struggles that each of them face. Its a very easy book to read, and a great way that turns a modern world into something more magical. The biggest fights scenes have a great build up and you know an ultimate battle is coming. This story fits perfectly into the action and adventure column.

3. A Journey to the Center of the Earth

Barnes & Noble

We cannot forget this classic, the ultimate adventure to places unknown in the very core of our own planet, written by Jules Verne. Depending on which version you have, the main characters names may be different than other versions.

During the entire time I was reading, it was a little difficult to get into. The main purpose, to get the most out of this book is to focus on the feelings and the main events that occur. Its clear that the characters are very passionate, and each turn of event is very dramatic. While the small details may be very important, I suggest not fussing over them, because then the story may become a bore to you. 

To summarize, the name is the adventure. A very eccentric scientist drags his nephew into a dangerous journey to find the center of the earth. A similar rundown is seen on this site

I chose this book because I believe that it deserves a chance to occupy some of your time. Because this book was written in an earlier era, and happens to take place in the mid-1800s, the way its written may be a bit harder to get into. There were moments where things were slow-moving, but it does pick up the further you read. The major events that happen prove that this is a great book for an action and adventure book. 

4. The collection of Sherlock Holmes

Baskerville Books

This happens to be a collection of books also written in the 1800-1900s. They reside along the mystery genre, but they have plenty of adventure within them. These books were written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There are 9 books in this series.

Reading these books in your free time can make a moment more fun. They were able to bring me into another world and time, and I always lost track of time whenever I was reading the next case of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. The momentum that builds is clearly seen when the audience clearly knows nothing until Sherlock reveals the answers at the end. For me, each one was suspenseful, I had to know what happened by the end. 

Continuing with the short synopsis, the books follow along on the many cases of Sherlock Holmes, and Watson is the one usually documenting everything that happens. There are some moments after the villain is revealed, they launch into their own background story which shows how they lead up to that moment. 

I include this collection because it can be a thrilling journey to follow along Sherlock's processes, from when they get the case to when it is solved. There are even some cases that didn't get solved, making the story all more mysterious. Many people have the most bizarre situations when they come to Sherlock, but he seems to always make them make sense from the smallest details. 

   5. Shadow and Bone

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This is a three book series written by Leigh Bardugo. This may be a series made for young adults. Its a fictional storyline based along the lines of a fantasy setting. 

This series has me addicted to this Grishaverse world. There are entire countries and different languages in each that I find so fascinating. I love following along on the map where the main character travels. Not only does the character travel around in her own country, but she goes through a intense path to discover her own power. 

Another quick summary, this world contains Grisha, people who are have a power to control certain things. The main character, Alina, discovers she is a sun summoner. She is the hope that many people rely on to destroy a massive void made of darkness that stretches across the country, called the Fold or Unsea, and is full of human-eating monsters. 

I chose this series because the world that is created within this writing is breath-taking. There are many differences in appearance, personalities, and people in general. Not only is the journey seen through Alina, but also seen by learning about all these individuals who also have their own important roles to play. The uniqueness of each power can make one feel eager to learn more about the Grisha in this world. 

Happy Reading!

I graduated from SDSU with a Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design, but my interests include books and writing.

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