Best Adventure Novel

T. H. White retells the Arthurian legend in "The Once and Future King," moving from Arthur's childhood and Merlin's magical lessons toward the burdens of governing a kingdom. Medieval romance sits beside modern satire, and an initially playful tone gives way to increasingly painful questions about p...

Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur brings Arthurian legends together in an English prose compilation first printed by William Caxton in 1485. Drawing on French and Middle English sources, it follows King Arthur's reign and the adventures of the Round Table, including the Grail quest and the event...

A tornado carries Dorothy Gale from Kansas to an unfamiliar country in L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," first published in 1900. Hoping to return home, she travels toward the Emerald City with companions seeking qualities they believe they lack. The Scarecrow wants a brain and the Tin W...

An encounter with a mysterious object at sea draws Professor Aronnax, his servant Conseil and harpooner Ned Land into life aboard Captain Nemo's submarine, the Nautilus. Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas" follows their underwater travels through the world's oceans, combining an a...

On his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton begins to experience strange events that reveal a hidden identity: he is one of the Old Ones, guardians of the Light in its long conflict with the Dark. Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising, published in 1973, follows his entry into that struggle. It is the second...

Published posthumously in 2007, The Children of Húrin presents one of J.R.R. Tolkien's First Age legends as a continuous fantasy narrative. Christopher Tolkien edited and assembled the book from his father's manuscripts, and Alan Lee supplied illustrations. The story follows Túrin Turambar and his s...

Published in 1968, Lloyd Alexander's "The High King" concludes The Chronicles of Prydain. Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper whose responsibilities have grown across the series, joins the struggle against Arawn, ruler of Annuvin. The final conflict brings earlier companions together and turns the famil...

Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe's Eagle, first published in 1981, follows British soldier Richard Sharpe during the 1809 Peninsular War. After the South Essex loses its King's Colours in fighting at Valdelacasa, Sharpe seeks to capture a French Imperial Eagle to answer that disgrace. The story builds towa...

Wilson Rawls’s *Where the Red Fern Grows* tells the story of young Billy Coleman's journey to train and bond with two hunting dogs in the Ozark Mountains. The novel highlights themes of loyalty, perseverance, and the deep connection between humans and animals. It is a coming-of-age adventure suitabl...

Ptolemy’s Gate concludes Jonathan Stroud’s acclaimed Bartimaeus trilogy. This 2005 adventure-novel follows Bartimaeus and his familiar Ragged Flane in a climactic battle against a powerful sorcerer. The story explores themes of magic, loyalty, and sacrifice within the context of Victorian London. It...

Garth Nix's "Sabriel" follows a young woman who leaves school in Ancelstierre to search for her missing father in the Old Kingdom. Across the border, magic governs a country troubled by the restless dead. Her father holds the office of Abhorsen, using necromantic knowledge to lay the dead to rest ra...

The Eagle of the Ninth is a historical adventure novel by English writer Rosemary Sutcliff, first published in 1954. It follows Marcus Flavius Aquila, a young Roman officer who travels into the lands north of Hadrian's Wall to discover what happened to the lost Ninth Legion and recover its eagle sta...

Sharpe's Company is a historical adventure novel by Bernard Cornwell, first published in 1982 as part of the Richard Sharpe series. The story is set during the Peninsular War in 1812 and centers on Sharpe's role as British forces prepare for and assault the French fortress at Badajoz. It combines mi...

James Clavell’s *Tai-Pan* recounts the story of Harry Fanshawe Osborne's struggle to establish a British trading post in 19th-century Hong Kong. The novel is notable for its detailed depiction of early colonial trade and conflict between European powers and Chinese society. It’s particularly relevan...

“The House of Hades” explores the depths of Greek mythology with Rick Riordan’s fourth “Heroes of Olympus” adventure. The novel centers around a perilous journey to Tartarus, the terrifying realm ruled by Hades. It is notable for its detailed depiction of the Underworld and its significant role in t...

Lirael continues Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom series, introducing Lirael, a young Clayr without the Sight, into the world of death collectors. Her unique perspective and growing connection to the Abhorsen lineage make her vital to protecting the balance between life and death. The novel is intended for r...

"The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood" is an 1883 novel written and illustrated by American author Howard Pyle. The work synthesizes traditional English legends and ballads into a cohesive narrative about the medieval outlaw Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men in Sherwood Forest. Pyle's illustrated p...

Bernard Cornwell’s *The Pale Horseman* recounts the continuing saga of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a young warrior caught between the warring Anglo-Saxon and Viking cultures in tenth-century England. The novel explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the brutal realities of medieval warfare. It is partic...

Bernard Cornwell’s *The Lords of the North* depicts the tumultuous conflicts between Viking and Saxon England during the 10th century. This historical adventure novel explores the brutal realities of war and political maneuvering as key figures vie for dominance in Northern Britain. It is particular...

Patrick O’Brian’s HMS Surprise recounts the adventures of Captain Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars. The novel is notable for its meticulous detail regarding naval life, tactics, and shipboard routines in the early 19th century. It offers a realistic portrayal of maritime warfare and exp...

Robert Louis Stevenson’s *The Master of Ballantrae* explores themes of loyalty and betrayal within the context of Scotland's Jacobite rebellion. The novel recounts the tragic story of two brothers, Henry and Randolph Morton, whose lives are irrevocably altered by their involvement in the uprising. I...

“Sunrise on the Reaping” explores the events leading up to Haymitch Abernathy’s victory in the 50th Hunger Games. This prequel novel reveals details about the arena and the initial tributes of that year, offering insight into Panem's dystopian society before the games begin. It is intended for fans...

Garth Nix’s *Abhorsen* concludes the Old Kingdom saga. The story follows Jude Stern, a practitioner of death magic who collects souls in the rural Blackthorn region. Jude confronts Orannis, an immensely powerful and ancient being threatening to unravel the fabric of existence. This novel is for read...

Joseph Conrad’s *Nostromo* recounts the perilous journey of Allan Caldwell, an English engineer, into the turbulent political landscape of Palazzo Nuevo, a fictional South American nation. The novel explores themes of colonialism, corruption, and human ambition through Caldwell's experiences amidst...

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger is a fantasy novel by Stephen King, first published in book form in 1982 and later revised by the author. It introduces Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, as he pursues the enigmatic Man in Black across a desolate world that combines elements of westerns, fantasy, h...

River God is a 1993 historical novel by Wilbur Smith set in ancient Egypt during the period of the Hyksos invasion. The story is narrated by Taita, a multitalented enslaved eunuch who serves as an advisor, physician, and inventor to the ruling class. The novel blends military conflict, romance, and...

Robin McKinley’s *The Hero and the Crown* explores the origins of the legendary Damar heroes. This 1984 fantasy novel details a young man's perilous quest to reclaim a stolen crown, revealing critical backstory for McKinley’s wider series. It is notable for its richly developed world and compelling...

Taran Wanderer continues Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain saga, focusing on Taran’s personal growth following his experiences as an assistant to Tír Tir. The novel deepens his understanding of responsibility and leadership during a challenging journey through the wilderness. It is intended for readers fami...

Ursula K. Le Guin’s *The Tombs of Atuan* explores themes of oppression and redemption within a richly imagined fantasy world. Published in 1971, this novel continues Ged's journey following his exile and introduces new challenges involving the dark realm of Earthsea. It is particularly relevant for...