Hey Kiddo. If the gruesome setting of The Last of Us left you reeling for more stories of survival, found family and the haunting beauty of decay, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re drawn to tales of fungal terror, dystopian futures or post-apocalyptic perseverance, this list includes books that capture the emotional depth, eerie atmosphere and heartbreaking stakes that made the series unforgettable.
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
A gripping and atmospheric reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher.
Arriving at the remote Usher estate, retired soldier Alex Easton discovers their childhood friend Madeline wasting away and the land itself much degraded. Alex has to uncover the sinister truth behind the House of Usher before it consumes them all as fungal horrors spread and anarchy descends.
The Bulgarian Bartender by Daryl Kulak
A darkly thrilling tale of friendship, betrayal and badassery in the heart of Eastern Europe.
When Kaylee McDouglas’s dream vacation turns into a nightmare, her best friends, exotic dancer Tiff and martial arts welder Angie, launch a wild rescue mission to Bulgaria. Armed with grit and guns, they dive into a shadowy underworld of crime and corruption. With unlikely allies and danger around every corner, The Bulgarian Bartender is a fierce, fast-paced adventure about loyalty, courage and the kind of friendship that fights back.
The Passage by Justin Cronin
A sweeping, apocalyptic epic of survival, sacrifice and a girl who might save the world.
When a secret government experiment unleashes a catastrophe, young Amy becomes humanity’s last hope. Rescued by the agent sent to capture her, she begins a harrowing journey through a shattered world, carrying within her a power that could either redeem or destroy it. The Passage is a haunting, unforgettable tale of courage in the face of the end.
HIVE by DL Orton
A haunting tale of love, sacrifice and the deadly cost of rewriting the past.
In a crumbling biodome adrift in a ruined world, scientist Isabel discovers a forgotten time bridge — humanity’s last chance to change its fate. However, only one person can go back. As time slips away, she and Diego are faced with an impossible choice: change history and risk everything or face the end together. HIVE is a gripping sci-fi drama about survival, regret and the paradox at the heart of time itself.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
A haunting, luminous novel about art, memory and survival in a world remade.
Fifteen years after a devastating flu pandemic, a troupe of actors and musicians roams the remnants of the Great Lakes region, performing Shakespeare for the scattered survivors. But when they encounter a dangerous prophet in a remote settlement, their journey takes a dark turn. Spanning past and present, Station Eleven is a spellbinding exploration of what remains when everything else falls away, and the enduring power of art to keep us human.
Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
A witty, genre-bending space mystery where cozy crime meets cutting-edge sci-fi.
On the interstellar ship Fairweather, detective Dorothy Gentleman wakes in the wrong body — just as a murder is discovered and minds begin vanishing from the ship’s Library. With a charmingly chaotic nephew, a suspicious ex-girlfriend, and 300 years of secrets in play, Dorothy must unravel a chilling conspiracy that makes death disturbingly permanent. Smart, sharp and slyly funny, this novella is Agatha Christie in space — perfect for fans of Dorothy Sayers and Ann Leckie.
Wranglestone by Darren Charlton
A haunting and heartfelt tale of love, secrets and survival in a world where the dead don’t always stay dead.
Peter and Cooper arrive in West Wranglestone hoping for safety and a new beginning, but the town harbors dark truths. As Cooper is drawn to others like him, Peter confides in Teddy, the sheriff’s son, only to uncover that the community’s peace comes at a chilling cost. In a place where the living and the Returned coexist, trust is fragile and danger is never far behind.
Space Brooms by A.G. Rodriguez
A fun sci-fi romp where custodian — or space broom — Johnny Gomez teams up with smugglers and is thrust into an unforgettable adventure.
Johnny thought life on Kilgore Station couldn’t get any worse, until he finds a mysterious data-chit buried in alien muck. Suddenly, every thug, assassin and crime boss in the solar system wants him dead. With a crew of misfits at his side and a target on his back, Johnny races to Luna to cash in … that is, if his enemies don’t catch him first.