Many incredible books go unnoticed in a world filled with trending titles and celebrity book clubs. These books may not have topped bestseller charts, but they have left deep impressions on those who read them. In this article, I will tell you about 7 underrated books that deserve a place on your reading list. Hope this article will help you find your next reading gem, so let’s get started.
Best Underrated Books List
Okay, before we start, I hope you know what underrated books are. Some good books didn’t get much attention or praise but deserve more recognition. To be honest, there are many underrated books, but it’s not possible to make a list for all of them, so here is a list of the best 7 underrated books you should check out:
Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio
- Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Space
- Pages: 753
- First published: 3 July 2018
Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio is a must-read for all you epic fantasy fans who also love deep space sci-fi. Vastly ambitious and unique in its themes, as well as its social structures – think Dune meets The Name of the Wind – this debut novel fuses the atmospheric, lyrical storytelling more common in fantasy with grand-scale science fiction.
The heart of the story lies in Hadrian Marlowe, a man who is either a monster or a savior, depending on whom you ask – and he’s known across the galaxy. He’s infamous for obliterating an alien civilization by literally snuffing out a sun, murdering billions in the process. But Empire of Silence is not about that moment – it’s about all of the things that led to it.
The eldest son of a wealthy noble family, Hadrian was groomed to become head of the family’s uranium empire. But everything goes wrong. Disillusioned by his strict upbringing and firm political expectations, he runs away and strikes out on his own – a path that involves a lot of war and philosophy and rebellion and a helluva lot of hard choices.
For readers who like slow-burn worldbuilding, introspective heroes, and sprawling sci-fi epics, Empire of Silence delivers on every front.
The Book of Hidden Things by Francesco Dimitri
- Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Horror, Thriller
- Pages: 385
- First published: 19 June 2018
The Book of Hidden Things is a slow-burning mystery book. It revolves around four childhood friends – Fabio, Mauro, Tony, and Art – who, after promising each other to meet at least once a year back in their hometown of Casalfranco, are drawn to their roots by youthful desire. But this year, as something’s amiss, Art never comes.
While the others put down roots - Fabio a photographer in London, Mauro a lawyer in Milan, Tony a surgeon in Rome – Art went home and never returned. Now he’s missing, without a trace, and his friends are caught up in a hush-hush but troubling mystery as they search for him. There’s a weirdly satisfying, almost otherworldly, supernatural vein to the story – enough that you may find yourself wondering what’s real. This novel is about friendship and memory. It’s a story to be woven over a long time, with a bookish, moody allure that will linger long after the final page.
Scream All Night by Derek Milman
- Genres: Horror, Fiction, Humor
- Pages: 400
- First published: 24 July 2018
Scream All Night by Derek Milman is a quirky, heartfelt coming-of-age tale with an unusual setting — a crumbling horror movie empire. The story centers around Dario Heyward, a 17-year-old who grew up at Moldavia Studios, a gothic castle turned film set, where his eccentric father, Lucien Heyward, got bitterly successful making dozens of low-budget B-horror movies.
But reality wasn’t all spooky fantasy behind the camera in Moldavia. Dario’s childhood was filled with emotional trauma and pressure, including having a controlling father who forced him to take on a lead role. Finally, Dario had had enough – he became legally emancipated and chose foster care rather than returning to the warped world of Moldavia.
Years later, Lucien is dying. In keeping with his flair for drama, he stages a bizarre send-off, inviting old cast, crew and family. After Dario returns grudgingly, he is drawn once again into the chaos after Lucien’s will unexpectedly designates him as heir to the studio.
Somewhere between funny, sad and majestic, Scream All Night is an emotional, low-key trip that’s as strange as it is great.
Gate Crashers by Patrick S. Tomlinson
- Genres: Science Fiction, Humor, Fiction, Comedy
- Pages: 416
- First published: 26 June 2018
Patrick S. Tomlinson’s Gate Crashers is a zany space adventure that follows through on its “science fiction comedy” marketing, without resort to cheap or juvenile gags. If you’ve been burned before by Douglas Adams wannabes or clumsy outer-space spoofs, don’t fret – this one nails it.
The story begins with humanity’s first interstellar mission, aboard the exploration ship Magellan. After the ship’s AI picks up on a floating alien artifact, it revives Captain Ridgeway from stasis. She chooses to bring it on board and unknowingly triggers a chain reaction of galactic proportions.
Meanwhile, scientists and politicians are darting around Earth, analyzing the alien tech, giddy at the advancement it may bring. But not everyone across the galaxy is pleased. An alien species known as the Turemok, which is obsessed with war, views Earth’s discovery as the ideal pretext to provoke a conflict – and, perhaps, paint humanity as a universal threat.
Gate Crashers is also full of laughs and oddball characters, along with just enough space politics and action to keep hardcore sci-fi fans interested. It’s a light, fast-paced read that doesn’t trade plot or worldbuilding for punchlines. Imagine a space opera with a sense of humor: smart, satirical and just plain fun.
Minecraft: The Crash by Tracey Baptiste
- Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Gaming, Science Fiction
- Pages: 277
- First published: 10 July 2018
Minecraft: The Crash by Tracey Baptiste is the second official novel in the universe of the massively popular game – but this tale plunges deeper than pillaging and crafting. It’s an emotional and surprisingly powerful YA story about friendship, trauma, healing and hope.
The story follows Bianca and Lonnie, two teens who have been bestie friends since they were kids, bonded by their mutual love of Minecraft. But everything turns upside down after a disastrous car crash on their way to a homecoming game. When Bianca regains consciousness in the hospital she is bewildered, physically shattered, emotionally adrift – no one will tell her much about what happened, and Lonnie is nowhere around.
At the hospital, Bianca finds a souped-up VR gaming system with Minecraft already loaded on it. As she explores the virtual world, she encounters other teens from the hospital, including a boy who invites her into his custom-built server. Together they build, they fight, they explore – and search for answers. For Bianca, the line between game and reality is blurred as she tries to locate Lonnie, both within the game and within herself.
This is a book not just for gamers. It’s a thoughtful, heartfelt story about recovery, resilience and the ties we forge – online and in real life. The last chapters hit hard and linger.
The Nine by Tracy Townsend
- Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy
- Pages: 367
- First published: 14 November 2017
If you like fantasy, sci-fi, or an intelligent combination of the two, then The Nine by Tracy Townsend needs to be on your TBR list. This debut weaves together magic, religion and science into a singular, genre-defying tale in an alternate world where God is the “Experimenter” and science has become a kind of religion.
It’s centered around a mysterious, magical book that writes itself – that lists the names of nine people whose choices will determine the fate of the world. As a result, powerful players want to call the shots going forward. What ensues is a brisk and multi-layered intrigue, with hints of danger and philosophical depth.
The Nine is remarkable because of its originality and its daring storytelling. If you want a richly built world with complex characters and ideas that make you think, this book has it all.
Ghosts of Tomorrow by Michael Fletcher
- Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction
- Pages: 394
- First published: 1 March 2017
Ghosts of Tomorrow, Michael R. Fletcher’s dark, gritty, unflinchingly violent sci-fi novel, takes place in a near-future world where people’s minds can be scanned and uploaded into robotic bodies known as chassis. These scans are almost immortal, programmable, and extremely valuable in various industries. The process is intended to be voluntary (you pay a company to do this, after all), but the black market presents a more sinister narrative: children are kidnapped, trained, and slaughtered, their brains scanned and sold illegally.
Fletcher mixes cyberpunk, horror, and brutal dystopia in a raw, unfiltered way. If you favor clean, tidy endings, this won’t be for you. But if your jam is mind-bending, morally complex sci-fi with an emotional core, you’re absolutely gonna want to check out Ghosts of Tomorrow.
Underrated Books: Final Talk
Ok, that’s it, that’s the end of the underrated books list. For some reason, like trending and books by celebrities, these books didn’t get the recognition they deserved. So if you wanna try a hidden gem that nobody talks a lot about, this is your list. Pick any underrated books from this list and I hope you will not be disappointed. By the way, you can also share your list of best underrated books in the comments.
You can also check out the list of the Most Expensive Books In The World
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