So here we are recommending the best zombie books to read. These are for those who need more undead entertainment in their life (only the fictional type of entertainment though; if the world is to end tomorrow it shouldn’t be because of creepy walking corpses, thank you very much!)
A quick warning: These books would have lots of blood and gore and violence (it’s post-apocalyptic, undead world, duh!). And deaths. Lots of death. So if it’s triggering or sensitive to you, don’t read further.
Minor Spoiler Alert: Its zombies. Not everyone is going to get out of it alive.
Also, P.S. All books are arranged in alphabetical order. Because duh, they all are awesome. So, let’s get started with the best zombie books of all time:
1. Ashes Trilogy by Ilsa J. Bick
About the Book
Title: Ashes
Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Paranormal, Post-apocalypse
Publisher: Egmont USA
Type: Series
No. of Books: 3
Books in it: #1 Ashes, #2 Shadows, #3 Monsters
Goodreads rating: 3.7/5
Alex has lost a lot. Her parents, her country, and now she is losing herself too. When she bonds with people while trying to survive on the roads of a devastated world, she slowly learns the difference between surviving and living. But this is a changing world. And no place is safe enough for good people. Ashes Series by Ilsa J. Bick is a paranormal horror novel with a fresh take on zombies and the apocalypse.
Why do we recommend this book?
Found family trope strikes again. It’s not as good as others on the list, but the character growth and the plot twists keep one engaged. The writer knew what she was doing when she created these characters. If a story that focuses more on humanity’s survival than on human survival is your preference, then this one is for you.
If you want to buy/gift Ashes Trilogy Book1, click on the link below: 👇
2. Cell by Stephen King
About the Book
Title: Cell
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Post Apocalyptic
Publisher: Pocket Star Books
Type: Standalone
Pages: 449
Goodreads Ratings: 3.6/5
The apocalypse started right in front of Graphic Artist Clay Riddell’s eyes, in the heart of Boston. Humans are turned into monsters, people are struggling, alliances are formed, and humanity’s worst is coming to life. Clay has found survivors, and each one of them wants to reach somewhere. But in a ruined world, who can you trust, including yourself? Thankfully Clay doesn’t own a cell phone.
Why do we recommend this book?
Cell, might not be everyone’s first choice when it comes to a book with a zombie theme, but it is quite commendable and enjoyable. King’s writing is consistent (awesome as it’s always been). It’s a good enough recommendation for thrill lovers. It’s an easy and entertaining read that doesn’t ask much to think about.
If you want to buy/gift Cell, click on the link below: 👇
3. Dread Nation Series by Justina Ireland
About the book
Title: Dread Nation
Author: Justina Ireland
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Post Apocalyptic, Historical fiction (Alternate History)
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Type: Series
No. of books: 2
Books in it: #1 Dread Nation, #2 Deathless Divide
Goodreads Ratings: 4/5
Post-apocalyptic America has recovered from a lot. People are now safe. It’s been years since the dead started rising from their graves, and the country has finally found some stability. Or so they thought until families started going missing? Jane is doing her best to make a name for herself, but when her country starts to unravel, she finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy that could throw it right back into the abyss. Dread Nation follows Jane’s journey as she fights her way in a dead world to find the truth about her country and herself.
Why do we recommend this book?
Black zombie hunter? Badass heroines and enemies to friends development? Zombies and Politics? Subtle romance? There is nothing not to like in this book. Representation of women of color, racism, and ethnics dealt with so passionately, and women supporting women, Dread Nation is a present that only gets shinier with every page you turn.
If you want to buy/gift Dread Nations Book 1, click on the link below: 👇
4. Reapers Series by Alden Bell
About the book
Title: Reapers
Author: Alden Bell
Genre: Sci-Fi, Post Apocalyptic, Young Adult
Publisher: Holt Paperbacks
Type: Series
No. of Books: 2
Books in it: #1 Reapers and the angels, #2 Exit Kingdom
Goodreads Ratings: 3.8/5
While the world now consists of both living and dead walking around, survivors seek shelter and salvation from their haunting pasts and uncertain future. Temple lives in a society that is barely surviving after the zombie apocalypse hit it years ago. And now she is on the run. Being pursued by a killer and the demons within herself, the dead are the least of her worries. Desiring to stop, Temple has to decide what she wants from her life, and whether she is ready to forgive herself. The Reapers Series follows survivors of the apocalypse who can’t find their place in this ruined civilization.
Why do we recommend this book?
It might not be for those who are mainly here for the horror and action, but the Reapers series is one of the best zombie book\sever written. Zombies aren’t the main focus of these stories. The story is very character-driven, portraying how people will be if the world comes to an end. It depicts the real problems people face as they struggle to make sense of their role in an already ruined world.
If you want to buy/gift The Reapers Book 1, click on the link below: 👇
5. Rot & Ruin Series by Jonathan Maberry
About the Book
Title: Rot & Ruin
Author: Jonathan Maberry
Genre: Horror, Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Post Apocalypse
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Type: Series
No. of Books: 7
Books in it: #1 Rot & Ruin, #2 Dust & Decay, #3 Flesh & Bone, #4 Fire & Ash, #5 Bits & Pieces, #6 Broken Lands, #7 Lost Roads
Goodreads rating: 4.2/5
The last thing Benny wants to do is become a zombie hunter apprentice, but he needs a job and is out of options. What he thought would be a routine job turned out to be one big adventure. Benny starts to understand what it means to be a human and how there’s more to life than surviving. It is a marvelous story of friendship, love, and connections. The Rot & Ruin Series is truly an exciting and action-packed read. The first five books follow the same storyline and cast, and the last two book consists of new characters. However, the storyline is interconnected, so the books are recommended to be read in sequence to avoid spoilers.
Why do we recommend this book?
If the first book seems like it’s too much teenage drama and less zombie action, it’s completely alright. It is just a part of the character building, as the succeeding books in the series are absolute perfection. There isn’t a scarcity of zombies or power-hungry humans in it, and the character growth of ALL the characters throughout the series is fabulous. Yes, every character here has been given a character arc! How often do you see that in a dystopian novel?
If you want to buy/gift Rot and Ruin Book 1, click on the link below: 👇
6. The End Games by T. Michael Martin
About the Book
Title: The End Games
Author: T. Michael Martin
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Post Apocalyptic
Publisher: HarperCollins
Type: Standalone
Pages: 369
Goodreads Ratings: 3.5/5
Michael and Patrick are brothers, and they have been playing The Game for weeks. The same game that brought the world back from the dead. They follow the rules so they could survive. But the game has evolved, and so have the monsters. The brothers have to decide whether the rules, are worth it anymore. A thrilling standalone by T. Michael Martin, The End Games tests loyalties, loves, and humanity as it follows the story of two brothers in an apocalyptic world.
Why do we recommend this book?
Oh! The plot twists!!!!! The brothers’ love!!! The complex characters!!! Yes, the action is plain at most, but everything else? Too good to miss one for any reason!! Oh, and the writing too. Did we mention plot twists?
If you want to buy/gift The End Games by T. Michael Martin, click on the link below: 👇
7. The Enemy Series by Charlie Higson
About the Book
Title: The Enemy
Author: Charlie Higson
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Thriller, Sci-Fi
Publisher: Puffin
Type: Series
No. of Books: 7
Books in it: #1 The Enemy, #2 The Dead, #3 The Fear, #4 The Sacrifice, #5 The Fallen, #6 The Hunted, #7 The End
Goodreads rating: 4.5/5
Everyone over 14 years of age fell victim to a virus, and the surviving children are left behind to fend for themselves. It would have been a whole lot easier if the virus didn’t turn everyone into blood-crazed, flesh-hungry monsters. The series moves along with several children, written from their point of view as they had to grow up, struggling to survive in an adult less world. A fast-paced, humorous read, The Enemy is one of the best zombie-themed novels ever published.
Why do we recommend this book?
Each and every book of this series is amazing. The protagonists are children, and the author did a great job in portraying their thoughts and actions staying true to their age. Reading about kids forced to grow up fast in an apocalyptic world is pretty heartbreaking, but the humor and actions make it an amazing read.
If you want to buy/gift The Enemy Book 1, click on the link below: 👇
8. The Forest of Hands and Teeth Series by Carrie Ryan
About the book
Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Author: Carrie Ryan
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Gollancz
Type: Series
No. of books: 3
Books in it: #1 The Forest of Hands and Teeth, #2 The Dead-Tossed Waves, #3 The Dark and Hollow Places
Goodreads Ratings: 4/5
Mary lives in a village surrounded by a fence that separates it from the forest of hands and teeth. But her life is thrown into chaos when the fence is broken. And she is about to find out that she might not have known everything about the world beyond the forest as she believed. The three books follow three different stories, each filled with horrors and mysteries as the secrets of the dead and the alive entangle until you aren’t sure what is safe and what is not.
Why do we recommend this book?
This one doesn’t have your everyday zombies or your everyday survivors. It’s a refreshing take on the undead, and the easy-to-follow writing style goes well with the plot. The girls in each story are different in many ways, and yet their strength will connect them. The storyline and mystery keep getting better with every book.
If you want to buy/gift The Forest Of Hands and Teeth Book 1, click on the link below: 👇
9. The Rising Series by Brian Keene
About the book
Title: The Rising
Author: Brian Keene
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Post Apocalyptic, Adult, Thriller
Publisher: Leisure Books
Type: Series
No. of Books: 2
Books in it: #1 The Rising, #2 City of the Dead
Goodreads Ratings: 3.8/5
Something went wrong and now nothing dies completely as long as it has a brain. A group of misfits band together to battle the dead as they all try and make it to a safe place until the walking corpses become the least of their problems. There are other survivors, and the government special force is out for rescue. And one of the two is turning out to be a bigger threat. The Rising Series by Brian Keene answers the age-long question of just how far humanity will perish in the face of death.
Why do we recommend this book?
Okay, listen here. Zombiefied humans? Ok. But Zombiefied birds and animals? You have got to be joking. The story is written from various characters’ POVs which makes it easier to relate to characters and get attached to them which in turn makes their death worse. Yeah, this one is not for the faint-hearted. And the found family trope is superior to anything and everything, no matter what anyone says.
If you want to buy/gift The Rising Series Book 1, click on the link below: 👇
10. This Is Not a Test Series by Courtney Summer
About the Book
Title: This Is Not a Test
Author: Courtney Summers
Genre: Horror, Post Apocalyptic, Young Adult
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Type: Series
No. of books: 2
Books in it: #1 This is Not a Test, #2 Please Remain Calm
Goodreads Ratings: 3.8/5
Sloane Price was at school when people started biting each other. Now she is still at school, but alone. Until five other survivors reach her looking for shelter. Sloane had already lost her will to live months before the apocalypse started, but it’s not long before she starts to realize that the end of the world might be a better place to live in. This is not a test that follows Sloane as she finds people and meaning in her life in this amazingly written book by Courtney Summers.
Why do we recommend this book?
It is not a joke. This book right here is the best book on this list. Not really. No, it is. Teenagers with varying opinions and wills are stuck together in a school while the world outside goes to hell. Character developments, life lessons, and lots and lots of philosophy. Please, it’s perfect.
If you want to buy/gift This is Not a Test BY Courtney Summers, click on the link below: 👇
P.S. A great lesson from all of these books for everyone is – Join the gym. Zombie Survival Guide 101 also recommends cardio (at the end of literally every page, no kidding). Because if worse comes to worst, having no stamina is a sure way to be 100% screwed.
P.S: Some books recommended here are available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have subscribed to it, then you can read these books for free. Check out this article: Is Kindle Unlimited Worth It?
SO, to conclude here is the list of the Best Zombie Books:
| 1. | Ashes Trilogy by Ilsa J. Bick | Buy the Book |
| 2. | Cell by Stephen King | Buy the Book |
| 3. | Dread Nation Series by Justina Ireland | Buy the Book |
| 4. | Reapers Series by Alden Bell | Buy the Book |
| 5. | Rot & Ruin Series by Jonathan Maberry | Buy the Book |
| 6. | The End Games by T. Michael Martin | Buy the Book |
| 7. | The Enemy Series by Charlie Higson | Buy the Book |
| 8. | The Forest of Hands and Teeth Series by Carrie Ryan | Buy the Book |
| 9. | The Rising Series by Brian Keene | Buy the Book |
| 10. | This Is Not a Test Series by Courtney Summer | Buy the Book |
All the zombie books recommended in the series are fun to read and scary. You will love reading them.
Articles you might also like:
- Top LGBT books to read (Amazing Reads) – Favbookshelf
- What is better: Books or Movies? – Favbookshelf
- Review of The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan | Favbookshelf
- How to Read Faster and Effectively – 9 Easy Tips
Videos you might like:
- 10 Must-Read Fiction Books of All Time | Awesome Reads
- A Thousand Splendid Suns | Honest and Spoiler-Free
Are you an author or a publisher? If yes, then you must check our services for promotions and marketing. They will undoubtedly benefit you.
Disclosure: All our recommendations are honest. Also, some links in this post are affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we recommend.
Did you enjoy The Walking Dead? Do let us know in the comments below!
Subscribe to our newsletter to never miss our updates and book recommendations.
Do follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Youtube, Facebook, and Goodreads to know more about us
P.S. If you share it, it will make our day.
Have a nice day ahead 🙂
Happy Reading and Keep Smiling!!
I truly appreciate this post.Thanks Again. Cool.
Great blog.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.
Major thanks for the blog.Really looking forward to read more. Fantastic.
This is one awesome blog article.Really thank you! Awesome.
Very good post. Keep writing.
Major thankies for the article. Much obliged.
I really enjoy the blog post. Keep writing.
This is one awesome blog. Cool.
Im thankful for the article.Really thank you!
Appreciate you sharing, great article.Much thanks again. Will read on…
I value the blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Want more.
Thank you for your blog.Much thanks again. Awesome.
Fantastic post.Really thank you! Fantastic.
Major thanks for the blog article.Really looking forward to read more.
I think this is a real great blog article. Much obliged.
Very good post.Thanks Again. Great.
Really appreciate you sharing this blog.Much thanks again. Awesome.
Appreciate you sharing, great article. Will read on…
Thanks again for the blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing.