8 Books to Read If You're Loving The Last of Us!

I remember when The Last Of Us video game came out. It was a groundbreaking game filled with epic storytelling. I was thrilled and slightly worried, a sentiment many readers can empathize with given how many adaptations have veered considerably from the original material. However, I'm delighted that HBO picked up the series and has chosen to move forward with incredible actors, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey (both Game Of Thrones alums!)

The show has been true to its roots, is filled with diversity and has had some absolutely visionary episodes. I'm a HUGE fan!

So, if you've been loving The Last Of Us, I highly recommend...

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Dread Nation is dreadfully good. In it we follow Jane McKeene as she trains to become an Attendant - someone trained in both zombie killing and etiquette to protect the wealthy, and a station that is a good opportunity for a better life for a Black girl. When families in Baltimore start to go missing, Jane is swept up in a conspiracy she did not sign up for. Set in an alternate history setting of the American civil war, it doesn't sweep all the historical significance of oppression and violence under the rug. We love to see it.

Panther In The Hive by Olivia A. Cole

Severance by Ling Ma

What would a millennial office worker suffering from grief do when faced with a plague bearing down on them in the hot spot of New York? Blog about it, of course.

Severance spoke to my millennial heart. When faced with a zombie apocalypse of sorts (with the zombie part being routine...just read it you'll see what I mean!) Candice Chen is forced to team up with other survivors in search of the Facility, a place she is assured they will be safe and where society can start anew. But obviously it's not that simple. I read this book several years ago and think about it to this day. It's fantastic.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

If you like M. Night Shyamalan and wish The Village had zombies (me too). Well, boy howdy is this one for you.

Meet Mary, who knows three truths:
The Sisterhood always knows best.
The Guardians will protect and serve.
The Unconsecrated will never relent.
Never go beyond the fence protecting the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth

That is until maybe these truths turn into lies. If "post-apocalypse romance" checks any of yours boxes we have a winner!

 

Zone One by Colson Whitehead

Mark Spitz, along with a few other civilians, is tasked with helping clear Manhattan of zombies after the worse of the plague is over. This novel takes place over just three days of Mark's life, as we flashback to what got him here. It's quite unlike any other zombie fiction I've read - the writing is captivating and literary and a breath of fresh air in the genre.

 

 

 

Feed by Mira Grant

Mira Grant (AKA Seanan McGuire) wrote a book that's less zombie horror and more a discussion on censorship and the political and cultural issues post wide-spreading disease. This novel follows teenagers invited to cover a political campaign post-apocalypse...which is surprisingly on trend now even though the book came out 13 years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Tooth by Jeff Lemire

 Jeff Lemire is one of my favorite comic storytellers, and Sweet Tooth was my introduction to his genius. Set post-apocalypse (an apocalypse which created human-animal hybrid children), we follow Gus who has been isolated from the outside world his entire life. When his father dies he's taken in by a Jepper, a man who promises to help Gus reach refuge. It's dark, but Gus is such an incredible character and joining on his journey had me in such a desolate world made me want to go with him. For better or worse. 

 

 

 

Have any other recommendations? Let us know in the comments!

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